THE NEW CHILD CAR SEAT LAWS - 18th September 2006

From September 18, all children up to 135cm in height (4'5”) will have to use a child car seat, a booster seat or a booster cushion when travelling in cars, vans and lorries. It will no longer be legal for children under this height to use an adult seatbelt on its own.

It is vital that children travelling in vehicles are safe, and this responsibility falls to the driver.Anyone who disregards the law will be issued a fixed penalty ticket.

Parent will need to start thinking about how their children will travel in other people's vehicles to sports events, parties and school trips, and making plans in advance so that the seat or cushion is available to their children for all journeys.

Seatbelt checks carried out by Hertfordshire road safety team found a lot of children wearing their seatbelt under their arms or behind their backs. This isn't a safe way for children to travel at all – in a collision a seatbelt worn in this way would provide little protection. The child could be catapulted forward, causing serious internal and neck injuries.

Updated 13th September 2006