Car seat laws


Expecting to be flamed......
I'm all for safety in cars but isn't this a bit over the top?
You risk a fine if you offer to give your neighbour and her two kids a
lift home in the pouring rain. And yes it is something I have done
many times.

I'm sure I could think up more instances where this law is going to
put children in danger unless a driver is willing to risk a fine.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4759944.stm

Children under 4ft 5in (1.35m) tall could soon have to use a proper
child restraint and booster seat in the car or risk a fine for the
driver.

The new rules are aimed at cutting the estimated 2,000 child deaths
and injuries on the roads every year.

The Department of Transport hopes the proposals will be passed by
Parliament into law by September.

Road Safety Minister Stephen Ladyman said the changes were for the
good of everyone in a car.

"If you are not big enough for an adult restraint then it's not safe
for the child and it's not safe for the people in the front seat
either, who will be hit in the back of the head by a flying child in
an emergency.

"Can you imagine any more horrible an accident than that?" Mr Ladyman
said.

Currently, children over three years can use an adult seat belt.

Other changes include the requirement for all children under three to
use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in any car or goods
vehicle - although rear seats in taxis are exempt if there are no
child restraints available.

Rear-facing baby seats must not be used in seats with an active
frontal air-bag unless it has been de-activated.

From May 2009, the number of people in the rear of a car must not
exceed the number of seat belts fitted.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Children in the front seat of cars
    ... 4-seater car? ... yes but they must use child restraint ... The adult seat belt MUST be worn if available." ... in the front seat using a normal adult seat belt. ...
    (uk.legal)
  • Re: Tips on handling situations?
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    (misc.kids)
  • Re: Kinda OT: Question about car insurance after accident??
    ... When I had my car accident last june. ... were covered under the car insurance. ... One child high back booster seat and one infant (rear facing, ...
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  • My used car checklist - looking for some feedback
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    (rec.autos.misc)
  • Re: Tips on handling situations?
    ... the first thing was he was NOT happy that the train that sometimes runs along a track suspended from the ceiling and going through the whole restaurant was not running. ... DH told him to get in his seat now or we would leave without him, and he finally got in the car, only to sit there screaming. ... He sat in the back seat saying, "I hate you." ...
    (misc.kids)