New law for child booster seats

[Radley]

Does it include taxi's etc, we have to get a taxi to dd1's dance classes and no way could we carry round 2 booster seats.

I don't think it does include taxis.

Are the police out on the school run roads with big measuring sticks this morning, I wonder?

It says so this morning, also, there was one part where a young girl was above the height needed for a child seat and the seat belt was STILL cutting into her neck, ANOTHER plan by the government not thought out.

Not in the back seat, but they must use the adult seatbelt.
DfT

The actual safe height is about 1.50m but the recommendations have been watered down in legislation so as to focus the most vulnerable age groups. Taxis are exempt from boosters but they must wear the belt that is there.

As an adult, at just 5 foot, I find that seat belts in the backs of cars often cut into my neck. Even more arguement for the use of boosters with older children IMO.

Taxis are exempt.

Also exempt are short emergency journeys (but what constitutes short and/or emergency?) - too many exemptions allowed.

Sadly I think it is unenforceable, especially for the older children. The police should be able to see younger children unrestrained, but bet it doesn't change things quickly. Just down to parents to use common sense I guess and start protecting their children, Sadly, as already happens with little children, many children will still go unrestrainted or without proper restraints and children will continue to be seriously hurt or killed. Like with adult seat belts it takes so long for these things to filter down to become the norm.

Does it have to be a booster seat or is a booster cushion ok?
(my neighbour thinks seat,I think cushion)

Think cushions are okay too, although recommended after a certain age only.

The new law

The type of seat/cushion is not actually specified in the law. It says appropriate restraint. However in the "choosing car seat types" section, full backed seats are recommended until age 6, and cushions are okay thereafter.

Thanks Hula,ds2 and neighbour's ds1 are nearly 7 and nearly 8 so cushions will be fine.

Except,we both have littlies who will be using the seats after so it might be worth getting seats.

sugarfree - you could always go for seats where the backs come off, and can therefore be used as just cushions as well.

Somewhere in the legislation it tells you that if you have a car with seats designed for children (like mine which is an estate with 2 fold out seats in the boot) they can be usedwithout additional restraints provided they have been manufactured to a certain safety standard (and it gives you the code to check on your seats) I'm sure I read this on a link from one of the previous threads, but can't remember exactly, sorry!

These are the exemptions:

There are three exceptions where there is not a child seat available. In each case the child MUST use the adult belt instead. They are -

1. in a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle;

2. if the child is travelling on a short distance for reason of unexpected necessity;

3. if there are two occupied child restraints in the rear which prevent the fitment of a third.

In addition, a child 3 and over may travel unrestrained in the rear seat of a vehicle if seat belts are not available.

heres more info re seats in extate / mpv boots

this

I am 5ft to and have that with seat belts , I have found in newer cars that you can alter the height of the belt so its not as bad.

You can get clips that reposition the seatbelt onto the shoulder to stop them cutting in to the neck.

You can also get a triangular shaped device from some of the children's gadget catalogues which fits on seat belts on either side of the car and poppers up to bring the seatbelt lower. I'm assuming thought that this is no good for the children under 135cm, might just be useful for slightly taller ones or small adults.

thanks for that hermykne, I couldn't find it this afternoon! I've now emailed Peugeot to find out whether I can use my back seats. They're too small for adults, but impossible to use booster seats with - seat belts are in the perfect place for the DCs though.