Selt Belts Information

Facts and Figures

The most frequent cause of death among children is car crashes.
Every year around 40 children aged 0 - 11 are killed whilst travelling in cars.
An unrestrained child is 3 times more likely to be killed or injured than those who are restrained.
Most accidents happen on local journeys, at slow speeds, often on the school run.
In April 2003, a survey by Britax and GMTV found that only 30% of child car seats were fitted correctly.

It is illegal for a child under 3 to sit in the front seat of a car unless they are in a proper child restraint.
Children under 3 years of age in the rear seat should wear an appropriate child restraint.
Children aged three to eleven and that are under 1.5 metres in height must wear an appropriate child restraint if available, if not an adult seat belt will do in both the front and the rear.
The driver of the car is liable to prosecution if a child does not wear a seat belt or an appropriate child restraint.
The law also applies to taxis, private hire vehicles and small minibuses.

Child car seat safety check list:

Do check that the child seat or restraint is correctly fitted, appropriate for your child and suitable for make of car.
Do secure your child for every journey, no matter how short.
Do visit www.childcarseats.org.uk for more information about child car seat safety.
Don't fit a rear-facing seat in the front if the car is fitted with a passenger airbag.
Don't use a child seat or restraint that has been involved in a crash, or one with a frayed or torn harness.
Don't ever modify a child car seat or restraint.