Child Seat Law: New Regulations
Please note:
these laws are due to come into force on the 18th September
2006.
Updated 31st August 2006
Quick Facts
A new Child seat safety law comes into force on 18 September
2006, which the government says could save up to 2,000
children per year from death or injury in road accidents.
What children are affected?
All children under the age of 12 will have to use some
form of child car seat, unless they are more than 135cm
(4ft 5ins) tall. |
Seat belts and child restraints:
Due to come into force on 18th September
2006.
The Law states the following about seat belt and
vehicle restraints:
-
For your own and others safety, the law requires you
to use a seat belt if one is fitted and for children up
to 135cms in height, to use a child restraint.
-
You must wear a seat belt in cars and goods vehicles
where one is fitted. There are very few exceptions to
this. The driver is liable to prosecution if a child under
12 years does not wear a seat belt or child restraint.
-
You must not carry an unrestrained child in the front
seat of any vehicle.
-
Children up to 135cms in height must use the appropriate
child restraint when travelling in any car, van or goods
vehicle - there are very few exceptions.
-
A child may use an adult belt when they reach 135cm or
the age of 12.
-
In buses and coaches with seat belts fitted, passengers
aged 3 years and above must use them. Child restraints
must be used if they are available in the vehicle. Passengers
on vehicles used for public fare-paying passengers on
30mph roads are exempt.
Injuries to children in an accident can be significantly
reduced by using an appropriate or suitable child restraint,
such as a child seat or a booster cushion. Seats must be approved
to ECE regulation 44.03 or
subsequent standards.
In a vehicle where seat belts are fitted, including mini
buses, buses, goods vehicles (Inc. vans) and
coaches.
How can I find out what seat is appropriate for my
child?
Weigh your child and ask, or use the following guide:
Baby Seats
up to 13kg (2st 1lb) - a rear-facing baby seat
Child seats
9kg to 18kg (1st 6lb - 2st 12lb) - a forward-facing child
seat
Booster
Seats
15kg to 25kg (2st 5lb - 3st 13lb) - a booster seat
Booster
Cushions
22kg (3st 6lb) or over - a booster cushion, or modern booster
seat designed for larger children
Quick Facts
What are the main changes from the existing law, when
it comes to carrying children in cars?
Here are four of them:
Up to now children aged
between three and 11 have been obliged to use the appropriate
seat or cushion "if available" - now they
have to use it full stop, with only a few exemptions
Children under 12 and less than 135cm tall may not travel
in the front of a car without an appropriate seat or
cushion, under any circumstances
Children under three may not travel without an appropriate
seat, whether they are in the front or the back, except
in the rear of a taxi
It becomes illegal to use a rear-facing baby seat in
a front seat protected by an airbag
What else does the new law change?
Here are three more changes:
Seated bus and coach passengers over the age of 14 must
use seat belts where fitted
From May 2008, child and baby seats must meet a standard
known as UN ECE regulation 44.03, or the higher standard
44.04 - this means they will be marked with an E and
the numbers 44.03, or .03
From May 2009, all passengers in any vehicle will have
to use an appropriate restraint (baby seat, child seat,
booster seat/cushion) or seat belt, where seat belts
are fitted
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Take time to make sure your child seat is fitted correctly
and that your child is restrained in their seat properly.
Incorrect fitting or restraint could cause serious or fatal
injuries.
What will happen if I get caught and I dont have
an appropriate Child seat?
The driver of the vehicle is responsible for violations
by passengers under the age of 14 (except in taxis with fixed
partitions).
Police can impose a £30 fixed penalty, but the maximum
fine is £500 if it goes to court.
Why are the rules changing?
The government says that surveys show three quarters
of children are wearing adult seat belts before they are tall
enough to do so safely. In other words, the belt could hurt
their neck or their internal organs if the car stops suddenly.
Or they could slide underneath it.
The Department for Transport also points out that the existing
regulations date from 1993, when rear seat belts were less
common, and that the law needed to be brought up to date.
Furthermore, the government also needs to bring UK laws into
compliance with European Union legislation (Directive 2003/20/EC)
on the use of seatbelts, which came into force in May 2006.
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