to think the new childrens car seat law is a waste of time.........

[2shoes]

I have lost caount of the ammout of children I have seen using an adult seat belt.

any chance they were taller than the limit or on boosters cushiosn you could n't see ? I suppose at least they wer eusign the seatbelt - last weekend saw a couple who were n't even doing that.

I understand the sentiments behind the law but like the one for mobile phones when driving, they are rarely enforced.

However, if an accident did occur and a child was injured because they were not properly secured, then the driver would be culpable and prosecuted. Also, it would no doubt affect insurance policy and possibly make null and void any insurance entitlements/payouts.

when DS1&2 are on their booster cushions it looks like they're only wearing an adult seatbelt unless you peer into the car.......

no, it really isnt.

Hmm, I do think YABU as the law gives me stick with which I can beat my MIL into using appropriate restraints for my children. She is of the opinion that as it was deemed safe to b/f in cars, lie carrycots in the back seat and squeeze 4 or 5 children along the back without any restraint in her day, then my insistence on car seats is just my being fussy...I LOVE the law.

A parent at pre school was fined and had points due to not strapping her son into a car seat and having him on ger knee.

the 2 I just saw could hardly see out of the window and were not in booster seats.

Not enforcing it may be a problem but it's still worth having the law surely? It sends a clear message on the importance of suitable restraints for children.

If people choose to ignore it then that's very sad.

the boys use adult belts in my car with boosters and clips to pull setbelts into the right place

next door never use theirs, you see the kids 4 and 6 in the car with the booster seats behind them on the back shelf

Next door but one never use them either, their 4 year old is always all over the place in the back

these are the same ones that play out at 10 at night in the dark in a narrow one way street [anger]

Drives me round the bend, we do everything we can to protect our DD's yet one gets ill, nearly dies and ends up with brain damage

(please, I wouldnt wish it on anyone else, just annoys and upsets me)

then these idiots dont even attempt tp protext their kids

I am sure you feel the same 2shoes, bet you do everything you can to keep yours safe

lol sorry, went off on one there a bit lol

as you can see, its a subject that gets too me lol

sorry 2shoes, I will have probably killed your thread now

In my state the law is 6yrs or 60lbs. However, it is enforced by law enforcement. I think it is a little on the extreme side but that carseats in general are a good life saving device.

I think it should be up to the parents if they want to kill the kids. The kids are their responsibility after all.

It's not a waste of time - if it saves one child from being killed or seriously injured in a crash, then its worthwhile.
I do think however, that it needs to be properly enforced (together with mobile phone use)

but kittywits surely you cant say that? surely that is the same as saying 'let the parents beat the children black and blue, they are their responsibility after all!'

anniebear I so understand your post it is so snot fair.

what I don't understand though I why it is not policed.

Oh and sorry
I really meant it is a waste of time because some idiots still don't care.
of cause anthing that makes life safer for children is good and not a waste.

Apparently police aren't equipped/allowed to measure children so unless it is obvious and isn't a one-off trip/taxi they can't enforce it easily - or maybe I read that in Daily Mail !!

It's bullshit. Statistically, the difference a car seat makes in an accident is not that great, yet people are (as usual) now beginning to believe that as long as you Do What You're Told your children will never come to any harm. The converse, of course, being, that if you don't use a car seat, waa, you're as good as beating your children and murdering them etc, etc.
The law has never taken into account the difficulties faced by car free parents of children between 9 months and aroun 3, for whom there is no such f* thing as a lightweight portable carseat for those occasions when you have to travel briefly in someone's car.

oh you should try it with a 10 tear old in a sn child seat. no choice but to put it in another car even for a short trip and it weighed a ton.
so sorry don't buy that.

the law is not the problem, its the lack of implementation of the penalties of flouting the law.

maybe if people were being fined or whatever for having a child outside of a car seat then people may take the law more seriously.

I was shocked a couple of weeks back that when we went to get a mini cab with my dd the cab didnt have any kind of car seat to use.
thankfully my mum jas a handbag like Inspector gadgets pocket and ouit came a seat belt adaptor that she "picked up in the £1 shop for emergancies" so at least she was able to use the seat belt safely.

Statistically, the difference a car seat makes in an accident is not that great

Ummm, not being rude, but where did you read/hear that? Surely (and sorry, I have no statistics to prove this) it is better for the kids to be strapped in so that they don't fly around the car if you have an accident.

Madamez that is such shocking bullshit I am not entirely sure what else to say