New Child Car Seat Laws in Force
18th September 2006
From today children under 12 and less than 4ft 5in (135cm) tall have to use a car seat or the driver faces fines from £30 on-the-spot or up to £500 in court. While parents are usually careful about protecting babies and young toddlers, many children stop using car seats before they're physically large enough for an adult safety belt - which are designed for people who are 150 cm (about 5 feet) and taller.

Some youngsters who have spent years using adult seats will now need to revert to using special child seats. Children less than five feet tall and using adult seats risk injury or slipping out of their seat belts in the event of a crash. If there's a crash and a child less than this height is wearing an adult belt it can cause serious damage to the child's internal organs.

This doesn't mean having to buy a child seat with back or head protection: the requirement is that children are raised to a sufficient height. This legal minimum would be covered by a the backless plastic seats - sometimes called "booster cushions" - which cost about £20.

There are exceptions to the new regulations. If there is a one-off "unexpected necessity", parents are allowed to waive the restrictions - but this will not apply to the school run. If families take turns in picking up each others' primary school children, they will now have to equip their car with enough appropriate car seats.

However, in another exception, many cars are not big enough to accommodate three seats across the back - so families in such cases will be able to travel with only two car seats.

CHILD SEAT REGULATIONS

• Child seats compulsory until children reach 135 cm or the age of 12
• Children up to age of 3 must be carried in appropriate seat
• Exemption for over-3s in "unexpected necessity"
• Exemption if there are three children but only room for two car seats
• Fine could rise to £500
• Rear-ward Facing Child Seats It is now illegal to use a rear-ward facing child restraint in a vehicle seat which is protected by an active front airbag.

Some Lyneham parents have voiced concern with the new law today, "I knew nothing of this new law and the fact that it's coming into force in less than a month is frankly a bit of a shock!"

There are no exceptions for children aged two or under. Seatbelt adjusters, which prevent straps lying across a child's face, are not suitable

"I don't have a problem with the principle and have always provided my children with suitable seats, boosters and restraints, but this law is being introduced with virtually no publicity, I only started to be made aware of the law last weekend".

There will be a number of important changes to the law in Britain on the use of child restraints in cars, vans, and goods vehicles from the 18th of September This information is also available in PDF format (142kb) more. The Child Seat Belts website gives some sound advise www.childcarseats.org.uk From May 2009, the number of people in the rear of a car must not exceed the number of seat belts fitted.