Correct Use of Seatbelts and
Child Car Seats
Presented by:
Carrying Children Safely
• The safest way to carry a child is in a car
seat that is suitable for their weight and size
– In a 30mph crash an unrestrained child can be thrown
about with a force between 30 and 60 times their body
weight
– It is not safe for an adult to carry a child on their lap.
The child could be crushed or torn from the adults grip
The Law
• Children up to 3 years
– Front seat: Must use correct rear-facing child restraint.
Illegal to use front seat if a passenger airbag is fitted
– Rear seat: Must use correct rear-facing seat
– In a licensed vehicle or taxi if a restraint is not
available the child can travel in the rear
unrestrained
– It is the drivers responsibility to ensure the
child is restrained
The Law
• Aged 3- 12 or 135cm tall
– Front seat: Must use the correct restraint
– Rear seat: Must use the correct restraint
• 3 exceptions to rule, child must use adult
belt
– In a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle
– Journey is short and necessary
– Two fitted child restraints prevent a third being used
• The driver is responsible to ensure restraint is used
The Law
• Aged 12-13 (over 1.35metres tall)
– Front seat: Adult must be worn
– Rear seat: Adult belt must be worn
• Driver is responsible to ensure child is
restrained
• Aged 14+
– Must use adult belt in front and rear
• Passenger is responsible for using restraint
Public Vehicles
• Buses used for public travel do not have
seatbelts because of construction and they
are designed to transport standing
passengers
• Taxi’s and private hire vehicles. If a baby
seat is not available the child must travel
unrestrained in the rear. Older children must
use adult belt
Public Vehicles
• Coaches and minibuses carrying groups of
children on organised trips must provide a
lap belt or a 3 point belt. By law all coaches
and minibuses manufactured or first used on
or after 1st October 2001 must be fitted with
seat belts
Types of Child Seats
• An appropriate child seat must
– Meet United Nations standard ECE Regulation R44.03
or R44.04
– Is correct for the child’s size and weight
– Be fitted correctly according to the manufacturers
instructions
Types of Child Seats
• Car seats are divided into categories.
– Stage 1: Groups 0 and 0+
– Stage 2: Group 1
– Stage 3: Group 2
– Stage 4: Group 3
Types of Child Seats
• Rearward facing baby seats
– Group 0: babies up to 10 kgs (22 lbs) roughly birth to
6-9 months
– Group 0+: babies up to 13kg (29lbs) roughly birth to
12-15 months
• Use in front or rear, rear is safer
• Do not use in cars with front passenger airbags
• Provide greater protection for babies head, neck
and spine. Advisable to use these for as long as
possible
Types of Child Seats
• Forward facing child seat
– Group 1: children weighing 9-18 kgs (20-40 lbs)
roughly from 9 months - 4 years.
• Can be used in front or rear
• These should have an integral harness. Large area
of harness helps to reduce risk of injury
• Attachment between legs will stop child sliding
out
Types of Child Seats
• Booster Seats and Booster Cushions
– Group 2: children weighing 15 - 25 kgs (33 - 55 lbs)
roughly 4 to 6 years
– Group 3: children weighing 22 - 36 kgs (48 - 79 lbs)
roughly from 6 - 11 years.
• Booster seats are now produced to fit in
both groups 2 and 3. They have a
detachable back when the child has
outgrown the back rest
Types of Child Seats
• Booster seats do not have an integral
harness. The adult belt should be adjusted
correctly
– the belt should be worn as tight as possible
– the lap belt should go over the pelvic region, not the
stomach
– the diagonal strap should rest over the shoulder, not the
neck
Conclusion
• Child seats are the safest way for children to
travel
• Use the correct restraint for the child’s size
and weight
• Child must always be restrained. Except
babies under 3 years in a taxi if restraint is
not available