Using a suitable child restraint or seat belt can significantly reduce the number of injuries to children. It is illegal to carry an unrestrained child in the front of any vehicle and child restraints and seat belts must be used in the back if they are available.
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Front seat
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Rear seat
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Responsibility
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Driver
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Seat belt must be worn if fitted.
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Driver
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Children under 3 years of age
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Appropriate child restraint must be used.
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Appropriate child restraint must be used if available.
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Driver
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Child aged
3 -11 & under 1.5m (5ft)
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Appropriate child restraint must be used if available. If not an adult seat belt must be worn.
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Appropriate child restraint must be used if available. If not an adult seat belt must be worn.
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Driver
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Child aged
12 -13 or over 1.5m (5ft)
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Adult seat belt must be worn if available.
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Adult seat belt must be worn if available.
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Driver
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Adult passengers
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Adult seat belt must be worn if available.
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Adult seat belt must be worn if available.
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Passenger
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Booster Seats
The new regulations governing the use of child car seats came into force in September 2006.
The changes updated regulations dating from 1993 when many more cars on the road than now did not have rear seat belts. The old rules are generally to use child seats and boosters "if they are available". The vast majority of cars now have rear seat belts, so parents can now benefit by always using child seats and boosters.
The new regulations mean that you must not carry a child without a booster seat if they are less than 135cms tall. As with all these regulations, it is the driver who is responsible for them. So the defence "my child thinks booster seats aren't cool" is unlikely to succeed. There is a £30 penalty for not following the regulations.
Adult seat belts are best for people over 150cms (approx 5') in height and with an adult bone structure. Children need to use child seats and boosters to be safe - the boosters put the young passenger in the right position to benefit from the adult seat belt properly.
Even if your own child is more than 135cms tall, there are things to think about if you ever find yourself giving lifts to other children, on school runs for example: the regulations will still apply.
If you think you will be giving a young passenger a lift, and they are less than 135cms, why not check if their parents have a suitable booster seat they can lend you? A child psychologist has argued that children are more likely to accept "their" seat rather than somebody else's.
The IAM tells us; when you fit the booster seat, ensure it is properly secure, that the child is comfortable and that the seat belt is properly adjusted. And it is a good discipline to ensure that all passenger belts are secured before you start the engine, regardless of how old your passengers are.
