Child Seat Regulations
A Parents guide...
The new regulations that were introduced in September 2006 were timely and welcome, but they caused a lot of confusion for new parents. This is an attempt to make them a bit more consumer-friendly.
Almost all parents have traditionally used some sort of restraint for children travelling in cars, but since the new regulations were introduced, it’s now imperative to make sure you choose the right one. The reason for the change was to prevent the use of adult seat belts before the child is big enough. Seat belts are designed for fully-grown people.
The general rule of thumb is that every child must use a child restraint unless he or she is more than135 cm tall or over 12 years of age (whichever comes first). ‘Child restraints’ is the collective term for all types of safety devices: baby seats, child seats, booster seats and booster cushions. They are designed for specific weight ranges of children and must meet UN ECE Regulation 44.03. Child restraints are approved for forward-facing or rear-facing seats, but not sideways-facing ones. Rear-facing seats may not be used in the front seat of a car unless the airbag has been deactivated.
There are four groups of restraints outlined by the Government. However because the weight guidelines overlap, some manufacturers use different names to the ones listed below. This has led to a lot of confusion in the marketplace.
The four categories are:
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Group 0 and Group 0+. These are rear-facing baby seats for weights up to 10kg and 13kg respectively (approximately birth to 9-12 months).
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Group I. Forward-facing child seats for children 9kg – 18 kg (9 months to 4 years).
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Group II. Booster seats for children from 15kg – 25 kg (4 to 6 years of age).
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Group III. Booster cushions for children 22kg – 36 kg (from 6 years old).
The key consideration in choosing the correct seat group is the weight of the child, not the age, even thought ages are noted as guidelines. That is because car seats are specifically designed to provide protection based on the size of the child, not the age.
It’s good practice not to move a child up to the next level until he’s completely outgrown the one he’s in as long as he’s still comfortable. The main difference between Groups I and II is that the smaller size has a crotch harness which is an extra safety device which will keep the child from slipping out of the seat if there is an accident.
After a child reaches 135 cm in height or 12 years of age, they must use an adult seat belt like every other car passenger. If the child is under 135 cm in height but weighs more than 36 kg, he still must use a restraint, and it’s much safer to use a booster seat than an adult seat belt alone.
There are 3 exceptions where a child does not need to use a child restraint, but must use an adult seat belt instead:
- In a licensed taxi or private hire car
- If the child is travelling a short distance due to unexpected necessity
- If there are already 2 fitted restraints in the rear seat which prevent the installation of a third.
There’s a wide range of products out there at various price levels. Most retail shops have assistants that are well-trained in choosing the product that’s right for you. Also, not all car seats fit all cars, so it’s a good idea to try before you buy. Or look at your preferred manufacturer’s website. Dorel, for example, will tell you which of their brands fit which car models.
It is the driver’s legal responsibility to check that the correct child restraints are in place for the children they are carrying. However if your child is travelling with someone else, you should check as well.
The new regulations have made choosing the correct child restraint a bit more complicated, but the Government estimates they will prevent more than 2000 child injuries or deaths annually. Surely a little more effort is worth it.