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Baby seat legislation

Belt We recommend that you do not buy a second hand car seat as its history will be unknown. Even if there is no obvious sign of damage, it may have been weakened by an accident, or through mishandling, and therefore be potentially unsafe.

Baby seat legislation – Car Seat Groups
You should fit the correct size of Car Seat for your child. The child’s weight, not age, determines the correct size of car seat to be used. Car seat sizes are classified into groups:

Group 0 for children up to 10kg (usually up to 9 months);
Group 0+ for children up to 13kg (usually up to 12 months);
Group 1 for children from 9kg to 18kg (usually 9 months to 4 years);
Group 2 for children from 15kg to 25kg (usually 4 to 6 years);
Group 3 for children from 22kg to 36kg (usually 6 to 11 years);

Some Car Seats cover more than one group, for example, a Group 0/1 Car Seat is suitable from birth up to 18kg.

Belt Correct Fitting
It is important that the car seat fits your car correctly. The interiors of cars differ and factors such as the shape of the seat and seat-belt length determine whether a particular car seat can be fitted safely. We strongly recommend that when purchasing your car seat, you should have it expertly fitted, (reputable retailers should be able to provide this service). If you have already purchased a car seat but are unsure whether it fits correctly, your local trading standards office should be able to put you in contact with the nearest car seat fitting service. The RAC also run periodic local checks.
The car seat should be checked for the correct fit each time it is used in a different car (such as when used in a relative’s or childminder’s car, or if you replace your own car).
You should check that the car seat is firmly installed before every trip. Once you have fastened the harness tightly, check that only the thickness of two fingers can be inserted between the harness and the child’s chest. All harnesses and belts must be checked and, if necessary, be adjusted before every trip.

Safety
All Car Seats should conform to the current safety standard ECE R 44/03.
Never use a car seat on ANY passenger seat fitted with an airbag as, in the event of an accident, the pressure of the bag could crush the child causing death or serious injury.

NEW CAR SEAT LEGISLATION

From 18 September 2006 new legislation governing child car seats came into effect. Please read this information carefully…

Rules up to 17 September 2006

	Front seat	Rear seat	Who is responsible?
Driver	Seat belt must be worn if fitted.		Driver
Child under 3 years of age	Correct child restraint must be used.	Correct child restraint must be used if available.	Driver
Child 3-11 years and under 150cms in height	Correct child restraint must be used if available. If not an adult seat belt must be worn.	Correct child restraint must be used if available. If not an adult seat belt must be worn if available.	Driver
Child 12 or 13, or 1.5 metres (approx 5ft) or more in height	Seat belt must be worn if fitted.	Seat belt must be worn if fitted.	Driver
Adult passengers (ie 14 years and over)	Seat belt must be worn if fitted.	Seat belt must be worn if fitted.	Passenger

*From 18 September 2006* in cars, vans and goods vehicles**

	Front seat	Rear seat	Who is responsible?
Driver	Seat belt MUST be worn if available.		Driver
Child up to 3 years*	Correct child restraint MUST be used*.	Correct child restraint MUST be used*. If one is not available in a taxi, may travel unrestrained.	Driver
Child from 3rd birthday up to 135cms in height (approx 4’5″) (or 12th birthday whichever they reach first)**	Correct child restraint MUST be used***.	Where seat belts fitted, correct child restraint MUST be used. Must use adult belt if the correct child restraint is not available: – in a licensed taxi/private hire vehicle; or – for a short distance for reason of unexpected necessity; or – two occupied child restraints prevent fitment of a third. A child 3 and over may travel unrestrained in the rear seat of a vehicle if seat belts are not available.	Driver
Child over 1.35 metres (approx 4ft 5ins in height) or 12 or 13 years	Seat belt MUST be worn if available.	Seat belt MUST be worn if available.	Driver
Adult passengers (ie 14 years and over)	Seat belt MUST be worn if available.	Seat belt MUST be worn if available.	Passenger

* Children under 3 years MUST use the child restraint appropriate for their weight in all cars, vans and other goods vehicles, with the single exception for the rear of taxis. They cannot travel otherwise. This means for example that they may not travel in cars, vans or goods vehicles which do not have seat belts installed.
** Examples. A 7 year old who is 140 cms tall is over the height for a child restraint and may use an adult seat belt. A 12 year old who is 130 cms tall is over the age threshold and therefore may use an adult belt.
*** If no seat belts are fitted in the front, then children under 135 cms in height (who are also under 12 years of age) cannot travel in the front.

(information taken from UK Department of Transport web site)

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has a website dedicated to child car seat safety advice, click here for details.
http://www.carseatinfo.co.uk/ is an independent web site dedicated to the promotion of child car seat safety.

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Baby seat legislation