2 year old in front seat with no car seat?

[Dancinggroot]

Not sure if this is the right place, but couldn't find anywhere more appropriate.

When I was picking up dc from nursery earlier, someone was picking up another child.
This child has just turned 2 (nurserybdid a "birthday party" around a month ago).

The child was put into the front seat of a van, with no car seat and strapped in with the normal adult seatbelt.

I feel really off about this. It really didnt feel like it could be safe for the child. And im sure it's illegal if they're that young?
Am I being over the top or is it dodgy?

Definitely illegal. Probably best mention it to the nursery staff though and they can raise it with the parent.

It’s of course illegal and incredibly unsafe. I would have to say something to the nursery so they could find out more for safeguarding that child.

Criminally irresponsible.

So I would definitely be right to raise it with nursery then.

I knew it wasnt right, but wasnt sure what I could / should do.
I only know the childs first name so I would be limited.

I'll definitely mention it to the nursery manager.

I guess there cant be that many kids with that name who had a birthday party recently??
And although it's not ideal, it's not an offence if it's a short/emergency/one off journey.
Maybe the regular collector of the child was unwell or unable to collect him on time?
Emergencies happen.
Make a note of it (date, time, description of van...)
If it happens again, contact nursery and/or 101 non emergency police.

If it was the only time you’ve seen it, I wouldn’t say anything. I thought one off, unexpected journeys were ‘allowed’ without a car seat? I know it wasn’t as Safeway it could have been but it could have been the only way to get the child home that day. It could be there was an emergency and uncle had to pick up child in his work van. Or Mum/Dad was stuck in traffic miles away so the other parent had to pick up in their van with the car seat stuck in the car in traffic. I’d keep an eye out and if it happens again definitely raise it with nursery, but for a one off I’d keep my nose out.

The previous posters saying fine if it's a one off.... But what if this is the one time you've seen it, and someone else has seen it one time and waiting to see it again, and another parent saw it once but is waiting to see it again to report... Do you see where I'm going with this?

OP it's not your responsibility to monitor the situation, tell nursery what you saw and they can monitor or take action as required.

Illegal

Its illegal to be in the front seat with no carseat. The unexpected journey thing only applies to the child sitting in a rear seat not the front.

Children under 3 years

Must use an appropriate child restraint in the front or rear of a vehicle. They cannot be carried in a car that does not have seat belts because it is not possible to fit a child restraint in such a vehicle.

It is illegal to carry a child in a rearward-facing child seat in the front if there is an active front passenger airbag. The airbag must be deactivated or the rearward-facing child seat must be placed in the rear.

Unexpected Necessity Over a Short Distance

If an appropriate child restraint is not available, children over 3 years old may travel in the rear using an adult seat belt. This exception is for emergencies and unplanned situations. For example, when someone has to carry a child due to an "unexpected necessity" over a short distance, and where not carrying the child (because a child restraint is not available) might leave him or her at risk. It does not apply to trips that could have reasonably been planned (e.g., a school run), nor to 'long' journeys or to children under 3 years old. You cannot take children under 3 years in a vehicle without a seat belt or the correct child car seat.

I've definitely seen the person collecting the child before, and I see the van at nursery regularly. Ive just never seen the child being put into or taken out of the van before.

I think it's the dad, but obviously could be mums partner/ uncle / family friend etc.

In that case, yes.
Report to nursery and non emergency police or pcso.

Yeh I second also the non emergency police after the nursery. If it’s a van, how hard would it really be for them to put a child car seat in the back of the van then take it out and attach it in that same seat. Get the registration plate next time you are there.

Bit difficult for you to get involved, but I’d probably let nursery know.

Yeah just mention it to nursery and they'll take it from there.

Ooh forgot to add, isn't there a weird rule about not needing car seats in certain taxi's?

Taxis are exempt from needing carseats. They can't carry every type of seat, just in case

www.childcarseats.org.uk/the-law/cars-taxis-private-hire-vehicles-vans-and-goods-vehicles/

Even if it was a ‘one off’, I wouldn’t allow my child to go without a car seat unless it was an emergency. The other parent being stuck in traffic, for example, is not an emergency. We’d sit in the car and wait until they arrived.