Belt up or get a booster seat

New safety rules mean that, from 18 September 2006, all children under 12 or under 4ft 4in tall must use car seats or booster cushions to raise them to adult height when travelling by car.

The new regulations are particularly hard-hitting when it comes to toddlers. At the moment, under-threes travelling in the back seat must only use child restraints 'if available'. However, after 18 September, it will be illegal for a toddler to travel in the back seat of a car unless they are in a suitable car seat. In practical terms, this spells trouble for parents without their own vehicle, as it will be against the law to take their toddlers in friend's car unless they have proper child restraints fitted. Taxis - a more expensive option - are exempt.

Parents are said to be confused by the forthcoming regulations. According to a survey by www.whatcar.com, 60% percent of respondents were uncertain how the changes were going to affect them. And even if parents try to follow the regulations, research has shown that 80% of car seats are still not safely fitted.

The Department for Transport website has a 4,062 word long document explaining the new rules but the type of seat deemed appropriate depends on the child's age, height and weight and parents need to check the manufacturer's instructions.

The DfT has launched a £400,000 campaign promoting the new rules, hoping it will prevent up to 2,000 deaths or serious injuries a year.

A spokesperson for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said 'Every year, around 30 children under the age of 11 are killed while travelling in cars, about 400 are seriously injured and more than 7,000 are slightly injured. Proper use of child car restraints woudl save children's lives.'

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