All children must travel in the car in an appropriate car seat until they are either 12 years old or 135cm tall
Once a child is too tall to be in a car seat, they must use the adult seat belt.
For adults and children aged 14 and over it is their own responsibility to make sure they wear the seat belt. But it is the driver's legal responsibility to ensure that all children under the age of 14 are correctly restrained in their car, even if the child's parents are passengers in the same car.
Once a child is too tall to be in a car seat, they must use the adult seat belt.
For adults and children aged 14 and over it is their own responsibility to make sure they wear the seat belt. But it is the driver's legal responsibility to ensure that all children under the age of 14 are correctly restrained in their car, even if the child's parents are passengers in the same car.
Babies and toddlers under the age of three must travel in an appropriate car seat in any private vehicle, whether it's your own or someone else's. You must never travel in a car with a baby or toddler on your lap under any circumstances! The ONLY exception for under-threes is that they can legally travel in a taxi on an adult's lap.
For children aged between three and 12 there are four exceptions to the law, which mean that in any of these four circumstances a child over three is legally permitted to travel in the car without a car seat. These exceptions only exist for practical reasons, a child is never safe without a car seat, so you should try to avoid these situations whenever possible and make it a priority to use a car seat.
For children aged between three and 12 there are four exceptions to the law, which mean that in any of these four circumstances a child over three is legally permitted to travel in the car without a car seat. These exceptions only exist for practical reasons, a child is never safe without a car seat, so you should try to avoid these situations whenever possible and make it a priority to use a car seat.
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The four exceptions are:
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The exceptions cause a lot of confusion, so I will go through each one in a bit more detail.
- It is not always possible to carry a car seat with you when you get a taxi. And as much as I would love to tell you never to get into a cab with your child, I know that sometimes you just don't have a choice. There are several belt fitted car seats available that are light enough to carry, so if at all possible try to use one of those. If you do travel in a taxi with young children and aren't able to use a car seat, then children aged three and over must use an adult seat belt, and babies and toddlers under three years old must be carried on your lap. You must wear the seat belt and hold the child in your arms, never put the seat belt around both of you.
- Cars that have three individual seats across the back are usually wide enough for three car seats, but in most cars when there are child seats fitted on the two outer seats, a third one simply won't fit in the middle. If you cannot fit three car seats in, you are allowed to put the biggest child in the middle in the adult seat belt. But only, and this is where the word 'occupied' comes in, when all three children are in the car and the other two seats are being used. If you don't have all the children with you, then that same biggest child must use one of the empty car seats, or one of them must be removed and replaced with one suitable for that child. A child must never sit in the back next to an empty car seat, no matter how short the journey.
- Before the early to mid 1980's cars didn't have seat belts fitted in the back. If you own a very old car that doesn't have seat belts, your children are legally allowed to travel unrestrained in the back. But if you have children and own a car without rear seat belts, you really should consider buying a new car.
- This is the one exception to the rule that causes the most confusion and the one that makes some people think it's ok not to use a car seat in certain siuations. I have come across several people without a car seat who say, 'Oh it's ok, it's not my car' or 'I only live around the corner, you don't need a car seat for short journeys'. They have misunderstood this exception. ALL three points in this sentence must apply at the same time. It has to be a short journey AND it has to be in someone else's car AND it has to be of unexpected necessity, ie an emergency. A 20 mile trip to visit grandma in your auntie's car is NOT a short journey. Getting a lift with a friend to go shopping is NOT an emergency. And picking the kids up from school in your own car when you've left the car seats in your husband's is NOT acceptable.
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Rear facing car seats can be used in the front passenger seat, but only if the airbag is switched off or deactivated. For forward facing seats the rules vary from car to car, so please consult your car's manual if you want to use a forward facing car seat on the front seat. |
The legal minimum weight or age at which you can turn your baby forward facing varies depending on which car seat regulation your seat is approved under. Car seats that have R44/04 approval can be used forward facing from 9kg, which is on average about nine or ten months. R129 or i-Size car seats cannot be used forward facing until the baby is 15 months old, regardless of how much they weigh.
However, we strongly urge you to keep your children in rear facing car seats until they are at least four years old, as this greatly reduces their risk of serious injuries in a car crash.
However, we strongly urge you to keep your children in rear facing car seats until they are at least four years old, as this greatly reduces their risk of serious injuries in a car crash.
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All car seats used in Europe must have an ECE approval sticker to show that the seat has been tested and complies with the basic safety requirements as set out in European Safety Standards ECE R44/04 or R129/i-Size. R44/04 came out in 2005 and seats that meet R44/03 are also still legal to use. R44/03 car seats were produced from 1995 until 2005, so if you are using a car seat that has R44/03 on the sticker it could potentially be 23 years old, and should really be replaced. Seats that were manufactured before 1995 and have been illegal since 2008. Car seats bought in other countries which do not have a European approval sticker must not be used in Europe. |
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