New Child Seat Law

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Ive just been reading about the changes in more detail in the Daily Mail. The new Law wont effect me as my 3 & 5 year olds already comply...Ive always been very safety cautious anyway...but on reading between the lines, it seems that it is now illegal for any child under 12 (and under 4ft 5) to sit in the front of any car.....so that must mean that it is now illegal to carry a child in a 2 seater car, such as a Smart car or similar...The government have definitely under promoted this change in the law, as I never knew about this front seat restriction.
Its great that they have introduced it though, I see far too many examples of baby's sat on passengers knees in the front, or kids jumping up and down in the car, unrestrained. Also I wonder if they will be doing checks on Blackpool Illuminations traffic, often Ive see kids sat out on the doors with the windows wound down, or stood up out of a sunroof.

 

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UPDATE :

I have just been to the official government web site on this, and the Daily Mail (page 32 today) have got it completely wrong. Children can travel in the front seat with an appropriate child seat.

Typical Daily mail, the article criticising the government for not makings things clear, then they attempt to "educate" their readers with complete rubbish !

 

[carolfoy]

I agree that its typical of the media to over dramatise these things - much the same as them keep saying you need a visa/biometric passport to visit the states etc. I also think this law is a bit extreme given the height limit for the child but as you say, too many parents still put their kids at risk by not strapping them in properly

 

[Goofyish]

UPDATE :

I have just been to the official government web site on this, and the Daily Mail (page 32 today) have got it completely wrong. Children can travel in the front seat with an appropriate child seat.

Typical Daily mail, the article criticising the government for not makings things clear, then they attempt to "educate" their readers with complete rubbish !

The front seat passenger airbag must be disabled before putting a child seat in.

 

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The front seat passenger airbag must be disabled before putting a child seat in.

Thats a rear facing child seat is it not ?

 

[Graeme]

It's the word 'appropriate' that will cause the problems as it means that you must use the seat/booster designed for the age and size of that child. So you can't put a two year old on one of those foam pads, they must be in a properly restrained seat intended for the relevant age/size.

 

[Cyrano]

I agree this has definitely been under promoted.
Our DD9 has recently went back into a booster seat in anticipation of thlaw, but DP's Fiesta will not take 3 seats in the back so pleased to hear about the clarification on front seat passenger.

 

[shellbell]

We only found out about this when we were coming off the motorway and there was a sign saying that the law come into effect from the 18th of this month. There hasn't been enough coverage on this at all.

 

[cstokell]

The only problem I have with this law is that if your child is under 135cm in height and is 11 years 364 days they have to be in a car seat to be safe. The next day, however, it is now safe for them to travel without the boost/car seat. WHY?????

Surley this law should only be based on the height of the child and not on their age. Obviously once you are an adult, whether this be 16, 17 or 18, and become responsible for your own safety then you can make your own decisons.

I know that as the child becomes older that they will not want to sit in car seats, particullarly if their friends no longer use them, but surely safety has to come first.

 

[arieliwish]

We've had to look into this at work as new laws are coming in for seatbelts on coaches too - work for a coach company that does school runs, private hires, and european tours.

The website states that there can be an exception made if you carry 3 children in the back seat and your car can't accomodate 3 booster seats. Bizarre. All the rules are very ambigious and you're right, a lot of people I know are still unaware of the rule change. Imagine taking your kids friends home after school - you'll need their booster seats!

On the more bizarre side our new rules for coaches state that everyone over 14 must wear a seatbelt on a coach and they are themselves responsible. For anyone under 14 the rules don't apply and neither the child or driver is responsible.

1. Try enforcing that on the school buses (!)
2. Surely under 14's should be the ones made to wear seatbelts??

No idea how any of this will work!

Lynn

 

[Cyrano]

Link here to leaflet.

 

[Madjock]

Imagine taking your kids friends home after school - you'll need their booster seats!Lynn

I had to drop DDs friend home the other evening, when I told her to sit down and do her belt up she looked at me horrified because normally in her mum's car she sits in the front or stands up in the back in either case with no belt I can just imagine her reaction had I also made her use our spare booster seat!

We have always used a booster seat for DD so it makes no difference to her or us thank goodness however my neighbours were moaning the other day about the new law, they both have sons the same age as DD, 6, but they haven't used booster seats for over a year and according to them there's no way their sons would use one If they don't enforce it in their car it will be interesting to see if they are ever caught!