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Child car seats/restraints

The Law
Children under three years of age travelling in any vehicle (including vans and other goods vehicles) must use a child restraint appropriate for their weight.

There is only one exception - a child under three years of age may travel unrestrained in the rear of a taxi if an appropriate restraint is not available.

Rear-facing baby seats MUST NOT be used in a seat protected by a frontal air bag - unless the air bag has been deactivated (manually or automatically).

In vehicles where seatbelts are fitted, children aged over three years but measuring up to 135cm in height (approx 4ft 5ins) MUST use an appropriate child restraint.

There are three exceptions to this, which enable these children to travel in the rear and use an adult belt.

• In a taxi, if the right child restraint is not available.

• For an ‘occasional journey’ over a short distance, if the right child restraint is not available.

• And in circumstances where two occupied child seats in the rear prevent the fitment of a third child seat.

The following websites provide useful information about in-car child restraint:

www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk

www.rospa.com

Useful tips to help keep children safe
• Protect your child/children by using a properly fitted, purpose made child car seat which meets current safety standards and is appropriate for your child's weight and height. Try before you buy and get a trained professional to demonstrate how to fit the seat.

• When fitting a child car seat, always follow the manufacturer's instructions thoroughly and allow plenty of time. The same applies when it comes to strapping your baby or child into the seat.

• Make sure your child car seat is properly fitted every time you use it. Always keep a copy of the fitting instructions in your car.

• Child car seats are designed for various weights of child. As a general guide:

• Baby seats are for babies weighing up to 13kgs (birth to 9-12 months) or until they can support their own head. The seat faces backwards and can be fitted into the front or rear of the car using a seat belt. They should never be used in the front where the front seat is protected with a frontal airbag.

• Child car seats are for children weighing between 9 and 18 kgs (nine months to about four years), and have their own straps. They face forwards and are usually fitted in a back seat with a seat belt.

• Booster seats and booster cushions are for children weighing 15 to 36 kgs (aged around four years upwards). They are designed to raise a child to enable them to use an adult seat belt safely across both their chest and lower abdomen.

• Always make sure that your child’s seat belt is properly adjusted and fastened before setting off in the car, even on the shortest trip. And remember to set a good example by fastening your own belt.

• By law, you have to wear a seat belt if one is fitted. No child can sit in the front seat without the correct child car seat (or seat belt if they are over 135cm in height).

• By law, children under three years old MUST NOT travel in a car or goods vehicle unless they are in a correct baby/child car seat.

• By law, you MUST NOT place a rear-facing child seat in a seat where there is an active frontal airbag. Forward-facing restraints should be as far back from the airbag as possible. Always check your car handbook.

• Never modify a child car seat or seat belt to try to make it fit.

• Check the advice in your car handbook and from the child seat manufacturer. If in doubt call the manufacturer's helpline or speak to your local Road Safety Officer.

• Lap and diagonal belts are safer than lap-only belts.

Try Before You Buy
There are many makes and types of child car seats and restraints available. Essex County Council offers a Try Before You Buy service to help you find which is the most suitable for your individual requirements.
 
If you are seeking to purchase a new seat the three permanent centres and one mobile display unit hold a variety of samples of up to date seats and restraints that can be tried in cars to help you find the most appropriate seat for your needs.
 
Once you have found the seat that you wish to buy this can be purchased from the retailer of your choice. Three of the centres are operated by Essex County Council Road Safety personnel who are trained and experienced in the fitting and checking of child safety seats and restraints. The remaining centre is a retail outlet with staff trained by Essex County Council.
 
The Essex County Council centres with operating times and contact numbers are listed below:
 
Brentwood
This is a mobile display unit and is on site between 9am and 3pm. The dates and venues for 2008 are:

7th April- King Georges Playing Field, Ingrave Road Entrance
12th May - Mountnessing Windmill Car Park, Roman Road, Mountnessing
2nd June - Brentwood Centre Car Park, Doddinghurst Road
7th July - Brentwood Centre Car Park, Doddinghurst Road
4th August - King Georges Playing Field, Ingrave Road Entrance
1st September - Mountnessing Windmill Car Park, Roman Road, Mountnessing
6th October - Sainsburys Car Park, Town Centre
3rd November - Brentwood Centre Car Park, Doddinghurst Road
1st December - King Georges Playing Field, Ingrave Road Entrance. For more information contact: Christine Willcox on 01277 312680
 
Harlow
This centre is now closed

Rayleigh
The Haybarn Studio, Lubards Farm, Hullbridge Road, Rayleigh SS6 9QG.Opening times are: Tuesday 1.00pm-2.30pm  and Friday 10.30am-3.00pm. Contact: Linda Shrimpton 01268 297500
 
White Colne
"Baby Barn" (formerly "Nippers") Whites Farm, Bures Road, White Colne, Colchester (Retailer) Tel. 01787 228000 Opening times are Tues - Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12pm-4pm. (ECC supported retailer for Try Before You Buy - but a charge is made for any checks made on any equipment not originally supplied by this company)

For any enquiries about the "Try Before You Buy" scheme please contact any of the numbers above or 01245 437234.