It is essential for your child's safety that you adhere to the law on car seats, and failure to do so can result in fines of up to £500. Since the 18th September 2006 the law on this area has changed, so it is important that you are familiar with the changes, to ensure that you comply with it.

What the law says:

• It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that children under the age of fourteen years are restrained correctly in accordance with the law. When a child reaches the age of fourteen, it is the responsibility of the individual passenger to ensure that they are wearing the seat belt.
• Children up to the age of three when travelling in cars, vans and goods vehicles must use the correct child restraint in both the front and the rear of the vehicle.
• The only exemption for children under the age of three is when travelling in a taxi and a child car seat has not been made available. It is only in this scenario that they may travel unrestrained. This law is based on practical rather than safety reasons, and is the only exception for this age group.
• In cars, vans and goods vehicles, if there is no seat belt fitted then a child under three years cannot travel in that vehicle.

In the front of the vehicle:

• Children from three years old up to 135cm/4'5" tall (or had their 12th birthday - whichever they reach first) must use the correct restraint for their weight and size. The correct restraint being a child car seat or a booster seat.
• It is illegal to use a rear facing child car seat (infant carrier) in the front of a vehicle protected by a frontal airbag, unless it has been manually or electronically de-activated. However, before doing so it is important to check with your insurance company, as this may invalidate your policy. We strongly advise that even if the airbag is de-activated, you use the back of the car, as there is still a potential risk that the airbag will go off.

In the rear of the vehicle:

• Children from three years up to 135cm must use the correct restraint. If there are no seat belts fitted, children of this size can sit in the rear unrestrained

There are three exemptions for children aged three to the height of 135cm where a seat belt is not available. In each case the child MUST use the adult seat belt instead:

1. When travelling in a taxi (private hire vehicle), if the correct child restraint is not available then the adult seat belt must be worn (where seat belts are fitted)

2. When two child car seats are already occupied in the rear and it is not possible to fit a third one

3. For a short journey of 'unexpected necessity' that could not have possibly be planned for

The changes made to the law ensure that children are properly protected as passengers in vehicles. Seat belts are purposely designed to protect an adult, and children require special products to offer them the same level of protection.

• Children over 135cm/4'5" in height (or have reached their 12th birthday) must use the adult seat belt if one is fitted.
• Using a booster seat ensures the lap belt is kept low over the hip/pelvis, which prevents abdominal injury. With a booster seat, the child is raised up so that the diagonal belt is in the correct position across the chest, which will reduced the risk of broken ribs and punctured lungs. The belt should not rest across the neck

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