New Laws For Children's Car Seats

... do you know what they are?

From September 2006, the laws about the use of child car seats are changing.

Are you aware of what the changes are?

Image by: Courtesy of childcarseats.org.uk

 

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by Pembrokeshire County Council

September 06, 2006

Parents in Pembrokeshire are being urged to use the right car seat for their child.

New laws being introduced by the Government on September 18th require that:

• Children under 3 must use the child seat appropriate for their WEIGHT in any vehicle (apart from in a taxi, if there isn’t a seat available)
• Rear-facing baby seats must NOT be used in a seat protected by a frontal air-bag, unless the airbag has been de-activated
• Children aged between the age of 3 and the height of 135cm (approx 4ft 5 ins) MUST use the appropriate child restraint.

‘Child restraints’ are baby seats, child seats, booster seats or booster cushions.

There are three exceptions where children CAN travel in the rear using an adult seatbelt.

• In a taxi, if the correct child restraint is not available
• For an occasional journey, over a short distance, if the correct child restraint is not available (this only applies to children over the age of 3)
• Where two occupied child seats in the rear preventing the fitting of a third child seat (again, only applies to children over 3)

The fine for not using a child restraint is a £30 fixed penalty notice. If a case goes to court, the maximum fine is £500.

The child car-seat website has information about the new law, and the fitting and wearing of child restraints.

Most local suppliers of child car seats and other child restraints will also fit them and give advice.

Free literature about the new laws is available from the Road Safety Unit at Pembrokeshire County Council.

Contact John Gobbi, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Road Safety Officer on: 01437 775144 or email: john.gobbi@pembrokeshire.gov.uk.

The Authority is also distributing literature to all local schools.