THIS MORNING - New legislation for all children under the age of 12 or under the height of 1.35 metres to have a suitable car seat/booster chair.

[Esmummy]

What do you think ?

I havn't seen anything about this but dd1 and 2 have told me about it repeatedly!

I thought that this was the case anyway - strictly speaking but htat no-one does it?

Also I am confused dd1 is only 10 but is well over 1.35 so does she have to have one anyway?

anybody know where to look for the facts about exactly what they mean?

There have been loads of threads about this with all the info you need. Hang on a mo and I'll find them and put a link

New regulations governing the use of child car seats come into force in just four months time. Drivers will now have to ensure that all children under 1.5 metres tall - in some cases until they turn 12 years old! - are firmly strapped in using 'correct restraints' at all times. But are the public sufficiently aware of this major change to our driving laws? How can these new laws realistically be enforced? And will these new laws help the fact that around 80% of car seats are incorrectly fitted in the first place?

The Major changes to the law

Children under 3 years

CURRENT LAW

Front seat - Correct child restraint must be used

Rear seat - Correct child restraint must be used if available

NEW LAW:

Front seat - Correct child restraint must be used

Rear seat - Correct child restraint must be used. If one is not available in a taxi, may travel unrestrained.

Child aged 3 to 11

CURRENT LAW

children under 1.5 metres (approx 5ft) in height

Front seat - Correct child restraint must be used if available. If not an adult seat belt must be worn

Rear seat - Correct child restraint must be used if available. If not an adult seat belt must be worn if available

NEW LAW:

children under 1.35 metres (approx 4ft 5ins) in height

Front seat - Correct child restraint must be used

Rear seat - Correct child restraint must be used where seat belts fitted. Must use adult belt if: in a taxi, the correct child restraint not available; on a short and occasional trip, the correct child restraint not available; two occupied child restraints prevent fitment of a third

The 'Correct Child Restraints'…

Baby Seats - rear-facing and for children up to 13 kgs (approx age - birth to 9-12 months); Rear-facing baby seats MUST NOT be used in a seat protected by a frontal air-bag unless the air-bag has been deactivated manually or automatically.

Child Seats- forward facing and for children 9 kgs to 18 kgs (approx 9 months to 4 years)

Booster Seats- for children 15 kgs to 25 kgs (approx 4 to 6 years)

Booster Cushions- for children 6 years and up

General Tips

•Read the manufacturers instructions and follow them carefully

•Never fit a child seat where there is an active airbag

•Check the fit before every journey. Push down inside the child seat, and at the same time, tighten the seat belt. This achieves the most secure fit by compressing the car upholstery and preventing excessive movement

•Position the seatbelt and ensure that the seat belt buckle lies clear of the frame of the child seat. If the buckle lies across the frame, the seat won't fit firmly and the buckle could break open in an accident. Tell your child never to play with the buckle or release the harness

•Avoid putting your baby into a forward facing child seat too soon. Babies up to 13kg (29lbs) that are not yet able to hold their heads up un-aided, should always travel in a rearward facing child seat.

The Safest, easiest seats around

For Babies

Britax Cosy Tot Isofix, RRP £190 www.britax.co.uk , 01264 386034

For Children from 9KG

Britax Duo Plus Isofix, RRP £190 www.britax.co.uk , 01264 386034.

For Children from 15KG

Concord Lift Protect, RRP £74.99 - n.b. under the new regluations only a booster seat is required - this is a full-on 'car seat' which can be used up to the age of 12, www.concord.de, 01273 764 744

The Evolva 23 with World Cup seat cover - RRP 65.00 - www.britax.co.uk

Further Information and links

Department for Transport FAQ’s about the new regulations

Visit the Department For Transport Website

Halford’s

Visit the Halfords Website

ROSPA – Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

Visit the ROSPA Website

Directive of the European Parliament and Council – read the full directive here (pdf file)

Go to the SPANA Website

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Ok, what is the difference between a booster seat and a booster cushion?

thanks

Booster seat has a back to it IIRC

Ahh I see thank you!

Luckily for me we don't have a car - but I guess it pays to be informed!

Anyone know if this is EU wide or just UK??

But for children over 3 years it appears that an adult seat belt would be OK if a child restraint is unavailable. How is that different to before?

I've still got 6yr old DD's booster seat although she doesn't use it. I suspect that DS#1 would refuse to get in the car if I made him use a 'child restraint'.

Other than a slight variation in the wording, I am struggling to see what has actually changed.

It is an EU directive but think it still has to be locally legislated for each country. I was surprised that as many as 40% of those polled knew. Apparently until the Parilamentary review has actually taken place they cannot advertise the change in the Law.

I think the difference is that a child restraint must be used in the front and in rear where a seat belt is fitted, with fewer exceptions (ie taxis, for a 3rd child in the back if 3 seats don't fit, or in an emergency). Failure to do so is punishable by a fine.

So...under this law if I take 4 children (my 2 plus two others on car share) aged 5, 7, 9,9 they would all need booster cushions/seats? pls confim someone as this is how I read it.

I then need to meet up with other Mum for the return journey, or invest in another two booster cushions, or stop the car share.

Under either version of the law, IMO you could quote the 'when available' part and you wouldn't be classed as breaking the law Sonnet.

Having said that, if it is a regular car share then I think you should either make arrangements to swap the seats between cars or else invest in more.

oh no what a pain.
primary beneficiaries are manufacturers of booster seats, which are jolly uncomfortable anyway.

law is already like this in Germany anyway

But surely if it makes children safer that is the point isn't it?

Seatbelts are not designed for children they are designed for adults or children tall enough for the shoulder strap not to cut into their neck

And so people are stupid and put the shoulder strap under the arm of the child

WHY?????

Instead of spending about £20 to make their child safe

Don't think it a pain at all - I think a fine is far too leniant for people who don't seem to think it necessary to strap their children in a car adequately - as a parent and someone who has been involved in a fatal car crash I think this legislation is way overdue.

We had a crash not far from us recently and the litle boy unstrapped himself from his seatbelt - he wasn't even 2 years old and the mum didn't stop because she was only round the corner from the house and she was cross with him because she was always telling him not to undo his seatbelt - it makes me so cross - she wasn't responsible for the crash that was someone else's fault but her not having her child strapped into an adequate child safety seat is tantamount to neglect IMO!!!

As for older children - DD will be in a booster seat until she is tall enough not to need one - if she doesn't like it she will have to walk everywhere or be severely punished - this isn't about looking cool its about your childs life!!

I had no idea that the current law was so lax! Scary reading really - glad it's changing.

does the rule apply to small adults too, ie, under 1.5 meteres tall?

Am that ppl think its a pain, i value my childrens lives and if they refused to get in the car with their seats when they are older then we just won't go out in the car.

WE always use high-back boosters (Britax HiLine) for our ds's (6 and 4) and any other child who travels in my car.

Had a big stand off a few weeks ago with one 6 yr old who wouldn't sit in the car seat - threatened to leave him at school and not bring him home for tea - I won - he sat in the seat

It is already law that you strap your kids into adequate child restraints 'where available'.

I still don't see how the new wording changes that.