Child Safety: Child Car Seats - The New Law
New laws coming into force on 18 September 2006 will make it the law for children above the age of three to use child car seats or booster seats. Find out what it means for you and your family here:
My child is aged 3 or under
Children under 3 years must use the child restraint appropriate for their weight in any vehicle (including vans and other goods vehicles). There is only one exception which is that a child under three may travel unrestrained in the rear of a taxi if the right child restraint is not available.
Rear-facing baby seats must not be used in a seat protected by a frontal air-bag unless the air-bag has been deactivated manually or automatically.
My child is aged 3 or over
In vehicles where seat belts are fitted, children 3 years to 135 cms in height (approx 4ft 5ins) must use the appropriate child restraint (child seat or booster seat depending on their size and weight).
Three exceptions allow these children to travel in the rear and use an adult belt :-
- in a taxi, if the right child restraint is not available;
- for a short distance in an unexpected necessity, if the right child restraint is not available;
- where two occupied child seats in the rear prevent the fitting of a third child seat.
Does my child need a car seat or a booster seat?
Rear facing baby seats are for children weighing up to 13kg (from birth to 8-12 months old)
Child seats are for children between 9kg and 18kg (usually 18 months to four years)
Booster seats are for children who weigh more than 15kg (usually aged four and up)
Booster cushions are for children who weigh 22kg (usually aged six and up).
Do I have to supply cushions for children I'm carrying on the school run?
The exemption to the rule for children aged three and over – namely that if there's an 'unexpected necessity' does not cover school runs. All the children you take on a school run will need the appropriate child or booster seat unless there are already two child car seats fitted which prevent you from fitting a third car seat or booster seat.
I have three children and can't fit them all in the back of our car if they're using car seats or booster cushions
In such cases, it's considered safer to have one child in the front seat of the car using the appropriate child car seat or booster cushion. To ensure their safety if the car is fitted with airbags, make sure the seat is positioned as far back as possible from the airbag.
What happens if any child passengers I'm carrying aren't using the right seats?
The penalty for not carrying children safely in your car is a £30 spot fine although this can rise to £500 if the case goes to court.
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