Car seats and car seat law
What is an "appropriate child restraint"
From the Department for Transport:
- "Child Restraints" is the collective term in the seat belt wearing legislation for infant/baby seats, child seats, booster seats and booster cushions.
- Modern child restraints are designed for specific weight ranges of child. They have to meet UN ECE Regulation 44.03 (or subsequent) type approval standard and be marked with a label (showing an "E" and "44.03" or ".03") and the Group number, or weight range of child, for which it is designed. All child restraints that meet the Regulation 44.03 type approval standard are approved for use in forward-facing or rear-facing seats.
Manufacturers use different names for their products so the names we have used below may not always apply and are a guide only. Manufacturers sometimes combine weight ranges in one product so that it can be used over a longer time as a child grows. It is the weight of the child that decides the restraint that must be used.
- Group 0 and Group 0+. These are baby seats - rear-facing and for children up to 10kg and up to 13kg respectively (approx age birth to 9-12 months);
- Group I. Child seats - forward facing and for children 9kg to 18kg (approx 9 months to 4 years);
- Group II. Booster seats - for children from 15kg to 25kg (approx 4 to 6 years), or 15kg up to 36 kg);
- Group III. Booster cushions - for children from 22kg and up to 36kg (from approx 6 years).
- Seat belt adjusters are comfort devices and not safety devices (check what the manufacturer says about them and their intended use). Only if an adjuster is labelled that it has been approved (and therefore tested) to the UN ECE Regulation 44.03 type-approval standard can it used instead of a type-approved child seat/booster.
In summary the new car seat rules are as follows:
For children under 3 years old:-
It is illegal to put a child in a rear facing car seat in the front when air bags are fitted.
If your car has an airbag on the passenger side then do not put them in the front seat.
In the back seat they must wear a correct child restraint.
If, in a taxi or private hire car, there is no suitable restraint then for practical reasons the child may travel unrestrained in the back.
For children aged between 3 and 12 years or until they reach 135cm in height.
children must use a correct restraint in the front seat.
Rear Seat
Where correct seat belts are fitted, children must use them.
The adult seat belt can be used in the following instances:
in a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle.
for a short distance where it was an necessity and unexpected.
where two other child restraints are already installed and in use (presumably by other children) and prevent the installation of the third.
If seat belts are not available in the rear, the child (of 3 or over) can travel unrestrained.
For children over 135 cm and under 14, or they are 12 or 13:
A seat belt must be worn if available in the front.
Rear seat
Seat belts must be worn if available.
Adults (aged 14 or over)
Seat belts must be worn in the front seat.
Rear Seat
Seat belts must be worn if available.
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"Most people already make sure that children use some kind of restraint when travelling on the road, but it is vitally important to use the right one; and not to use an adult belt before the child is big enough.
"Small children need the protection that baby seats and child seats are designed to provide. Seat belts are designed for adults. Children who have grown out of child seats still need to use booster seats and booster cushions.
"We estimate that these changes could prevent over 2000 child deaths or injuries each year."
Stephen Ladyman - Road Safety Minister.
Fuller information is available on the Department for Transport website which can be found here.