Child Car Seat Laws

From the 18th September 2006, parents have to make sure that with very few exceptions children up to 4' 5" in height use the relevant child car seats or boosters in cars, vans and other goods vehicles, and parents face being fined if they don't comply with the new rules. The penalties for not using a seat belt or child restraint are £30 fixed penalty notice or a maximum fine of £500 if a case goes to court.

The changes mean that:

• all children under 3 years old must use the correct child seat when travelling in any car or goods vehicle (except in the rear of a taxi if a child seat is not available);
• children aged 3 years and under 12 must use the correct child seat/booster seat/booster cushion when travelling in cars or goods vehicles until they reach about 4' 5" (135cms). Few exceptions are permitted;
• taller children and all those aged 12 and over need to use adult belts;
• rear-facing baby seats must not be used in seats with an active frontal air-bag;
• there are some specific practical exemptions - for taxis, emergency vehicles, and (for children aged 3 and over) journeys over a short distance in an unexpected necessity;
• in mini-buses, buses and coaches, seated passengers aged 14 years and above must use seat belts where they are fitted. We will be consulting on further regulations which will be made as soon as possible requiring children under 14 years to use seat belts in these vehicles.

Further regulations will be introduced in due course so that:

• where seat belts are provided, the number of people carried in the rear of cars and goods vehicles may not exceed the number of seats available fitted with seat belts or child restraints (to apply from May 2009);
• modern UN ECE Regulation 44.03 (or later) type-approved child restraints must be used from May 2008. Most restraints in use already meet this standard.

It is important for children to use the proper restraint rather than an adult seat belt because if the adult belt is too high across the stomach, then in a crash, serious internal injury could result, or the child could submarine under the seat belt. Children who have grown out of child seats still need to use booster seats or booster cushions until they are big enough to graduate to seat belts.

For more information about the campaign visit www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk or call 08000 32 72 52 for a leaflet.

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