As the summer holidays approach we know that many parents will be faced with the prospect of transporting additional children to and from events, activities and child-care. Child-seats save lives and the laws surrounding them are very clear. We also know though that sometimes facts can get a bit muddled as they’re discussed so we thought we’d try and answer this for you as clearly as possible. So:
Child Car Seats – What’s The Law?
In nearly all cases, there are exceptions but they are few and far between, every child be transported in a car should be in a car seat until they are either 135cm tall (and it’s better to be cautious on the height, no matter how persistent the child) or 12 years old – whichever comes sooner.
Only EU approved child seats can be used in the UK – depending on what weight of child the seat is intended for, there should be an orange label with an E in a circle that looks a bit like this:
The type of car seat that is used depends on the weight of your child and we strongly recommend that you seek professional advice when choosing a car seat and are properly instructed on how to fit it:
| Type of seat | Weight |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing baby seats | Babies up to 13kg |
| Forward or rear-facing baby seats | Children from 9 to 18kg |
| Forward-facing child car seats (booster seats) | Children from 15 to 25kg |
| Booster cushions | Children over 22kg |
Many families tell us that older children prefer high-backed booster seats for as long as possible, especially if they sleep in the car. There is also evidence that these offer far more protection to children in the event of a side-on collision.
Child Car Seat Law – the Exceptions
Children can travel in cars without a seat belt in a few circumstances:
In a licensed taxi or mini-cab children under 3 can travel on the back seat without a seatbelt and those over 3 can travel on the back seat wearing the adult seat-belt provided.
If an unexpected journey has to be made provided the journey is short, necessary (going to the chip shop is not counted as necessary!) and genuinely unexpected – for example taking a stranded child home. You can’t take children under 3 in a vehicle without a seat belt or the correct child car seat (except a taxi or minicab).
Some cars do not have enough space for 3 car seats in the back. If this is the case, all children under 3 must travel in a car seat – so move one to the front seat (here at Verulam we would suggest the heaviest if you have front passenger side airbags activated). Children over 3 can sit in the back with an adult seat belt.
Some cars don’t have seatbelts (they are now nearly all pre 1963 vehicles). If a child is under 3 they must travel in a car seat and therefore can’t travel in a car without seatbelts. Children over 3 can travel in the back without seatbelts legally.
For two-seater vintage cars, if they have had seat-belts retro-fitted they must be worn. Without seat-belts the law states that the child must either be over 12 or 150cm tall to travel without a seatbelt.
Travelling in vintage cars and the safety issues that go with them seems to be an area of much debate and opinion. We strongly suggest you seek further advice if you are in anyway unsure.
Clunk click every trip – we’ll make sure you seat belts are safe at your MOT and as ever, if you’ve got any car related problems or subjects that you’d like us to cover here on the blog, do let us know.