Latest News :
June 2005
The law on using child restraints in cars is going to change. By May 2006, the law will require children travelling in cars to use child restraints.
The Department for Transport issued its long awaited consultation about child car seat use on the 13th June 2005. The consultation discusses how European Directive 2003/20/EC is implemented.
The Consultation Paper Child Seats consultation paper is available on the DfT website.
The key proposals are that:
- All children under 3 years old must use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in a car or goods vehicle (except in a taxi if a child seat is not available);
- Children aged 3 or more years old and up to 135 cms (approx 4 ft 5 inches) in height must use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in cars or goods vehicles fitted with seat belts (few exceptions are permitted);
- Rear-facing baby seats must not be used in seats with active frontal air-bag;
- All child restraints must conform to modern safety standards, meaning UN-ECE Regulation 44.03 (to apply from May 2008); and
- Where seat belts are provided, the number of people carried in the rear of vehicles may not exceed the number of seats available fitted with seat belts or child restraints (to apply from May 2009).
It is hoped that new legislation will prevent around 2000 child deaths and injuries per year, the consultation closes on the 5th of September.
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