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Motoring news

Drivers 'unaware' of child car seat legislation

16/02/2009

Some 83% of drivers are not aware of child car seat legislation, an AA poll has revealed.

In the survey of over 16,400 drivers, conducted with child seat maker Britax, 66% of respondents were unaware that the law can require children up to the age of 12 to use a car seat. And 80% did not know that children under 135 centimetres tall must use a child seat until they reach age 12.

The level of knowledge was particularly poor among the grandparents surveyed. Some 74% of grandparents said that they were unaware of the age restriction, and 86% said the same of the height limit.

The current law on child car seats came into effect in 2006, and requires all children travelling in cars to use a child seat until they reach either 135cms in height or their 12th birthday.

Drivers are responsible for child passengers under 14, and those caught breaking the law face a fine of up to £500. Motorists could also be subject to civil proceedings if they fail to protect someone else's child.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said: "It's shocking that despite the great safety advances in child seat design over the past 12 years... such significant numbers of child car seats are still fitted incorrectly."

Commenting on the survey results, a spokesperson for road safety charity Brake told Admiral News: "Most parents want to do the right thing, but some are clearly in need of advice when it comes to protecting their children when out and about in cars.

"We urgently need a Government education campaign providing parents with automatic information on the dangers of not using the correct child car seat, and advice on how to make the right choice."