To be shocked and disgusted at what I've just watched on BBC1 'Motorway Cops'

[cushioncover]

Just watched a police car stop a family. They had two children in the back, a 10mth old and a 4yr old. Neither the children nor the adults had seat belt on. Neither child was in a child seat.

He was cautioned and told he would receive a summons BUT he was then allowed to carry on his journey on the M6 with the kids in the back without car seat probably without even being strapped in.

Surely this cannot be responsible policing? Imagine an accident at 70mph where nobody including a baby and toddler are strapped in.
I know it's TV but this isn't fiction and I trully am upset and angry at this.

I just hope that none of you who make all sorts of excuses for yourselves about car seats and not using them NEVER end up having to organise a funeral for your DC or attending one of neice nephew/friends child. Been there,and you NEVER get over it. We are not talking about the possibility of pranging your car, but killing your kids!!!!!

OK, these things may be relatively rare and of course I know that a car seat does not always save a life, but have you seen the crash dummies in LOW SPEED collisions? Straight through the windscreen onto the road Vs minor bruising if restrained correctly!!

My comments about second hand car seats - If I am generous to GIVE one away on freecycle to perhaps save the life of someones elses child, then you can assume that it is OK and safe. Agree about second hand and the manufactureres scaremongering tho.

Borrow one from a friend ?? Perhaps we need a car seat section in the library??

I'm with SGB on this one, I have all my children in car seats when we are in the car, but when I didn't have a car I often used taxis without a car seat.

As for the police not doing enough, well, it's always people who have no idea about what the police actually can and can't do that have the problem, I may ask DP to do a few more vehicular stops next week so we can get some extra cash in for xmas.

I am so confused were the children wearing seat belts just not sitting in car seats???

If the car was not insured they would have been turfed out and made to walk while car was impounded (well not literaly on the motorway)

in this case the driver had no licence (so by default no valid insurance) but he was allowed to continue driving, as he was foreign i think he may have claimed to have had a foreign licence which he could use for first 6 months here, that may have been why the discrepency wasnt picked up at the roadside

it is unfortunate that it wasnt, as then they would have been walking home (again not actually on the motorway) and the car towed

BarnsleyBelle - yes it is offensive to wife of policeman to say they are not concerned with safety but more with money. The police do not get the money from the fines! Their job is to enforce the law and they cannot enforce laws that do not exist. What would you suggest - they take the family home in the police car without said car seats. Their hands are tied and they do not stand to make anything from giving out fines.

And yes it is very shocking and disgusting that people will put their children in such danger.