CAR SEAT SAFETY

The current European Directive requires all children aged under 12 years who are also under 1.35 metres in height (Approx. 4ft 5ins) and 36 kg in weight will have to use appropriate seats which are built or strapped in, and not an adult seat belt on its own.

 Basic Principles

* 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. Further regulations will be made
   as soon as possible requiring children under 14 years to use seat belts in these vehicles.
* 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
*Child restraints (baby seats, child seats, booster seats and booster cushions) sold in the UK must conform to the United Nations ECE Regulation R44.03
  and 44.04  version of the standard
* ISOFIX stands for "International Standards Organisation FIX". It is a new standard for installing child seats into cars. which is being adopted by vehicle
   manufacturers and is intended to make fitting child seats quick and simple. Look for the 'E' mark. For further information click child care seat (new Window)
Information has been taken from Government News Network as at April 2010

To assist you making the right choice for your child click on the link to Rospa http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/index.htm (new window)

Responsibility

In all cases, involving children under the age of 14, it is the the driver's responsibility in law to ensure these rules are followed, failure to do so will result in a £30 fixed penalty notice. If the case goes to court, the maximum fine is £500.

Car Seat Types

Group 0+ ⁽¹⁾
Rearward-facing seats 
for babies up to 13kg (29 lbs) : birth to 12-15 months
Portable infant carriers. Light, easy to carry and can be used as a rocker. They are rear-facing only, for use in the back or front (when not fitted with an airbag).
⁽¹⁾ Group 0 (0 – 9 kg) baby seats are no longer produced.

Group 0+ - 1
Combination seat
Birth to 18 kgs (20-40 lbs) : birth - 4 years 
These are rear and forward facing seats. They are versatile 2-way seats for use rear-facing for young babies birth to 13kg (29 lbs)
Then convert to a forward facing seat suitable from 9 to 18kg (9 months - 4 years). They include a integral one-pull harness and  secure with adult lap & diagonal seat belt.
Not to be fitted on the front seat if the vehicule has integral air bags fitted.

Group 1
Forward-facing child seat
for children from 9kgs to18 kgs (20-40 lbs) : 9 months - 4 years
These seats have an integral harness, the large area of the harness helps to reduce the risk of injury if there is a crash. The bottom attachment between the legs will also prevent the child from sliding under, and out of, the harness.
They can be used in the front or rear of the car, but it is safer to put them in the rear, especially if there is a passenger airbag in the front.
Only move your child to a booster seat once they have exceeded the maximum weight for the child seat, or the top of their head is higher than the top of the seat.

Group 1,2 and 3
Forward facing Booster seats
For children from 9kgs to 36 kgs (20-79 lbs) : 9 months to 11 years
A highback seat that evolves with your child. Versatile, longer usage and can convert to a booster cushion.

Group 2 and 3
Forward facing Booster Seat
For Children from 15 kgs to 36 kgs (33-79 lbs) : 4 years to 6 years
A highback seat that evolves with your child. Versatile, longer usage

Group 3
Booster Cushion ⁽²⁾
For Children from 22 kgs to 36 kgs (48-79 lbs) : 6 to 11 years
Booster cushiond are lightweight seats which raise the child so that the seat belt is held in the correct position over the shoulder.
They are secured with an adult seat belt.
⁽²⁾ Booster seats that only fit into Group 2 or only into Group 3 are no longer produced.
      They now fit into either Group 2 and 3 (15 – 36 kg) or Groups 1 to 3 (9 – 36 kg).

• NOTE:
  Booster seats and booster cushions do not have an integral harness to hold the child in place.
  The adult seat belt goes around the child and the seat. So it is important that the seat belt is correctly adjusted.
  The basic points to note are:
  
  the belt should be worn as tight as possible
  the lap belt should go over the pelvic region, not the stomach
  the diagonal strap should rest over the shoulder, not the neck