Squeezing all your luggage into the car and strapping in the kids ready for a getaway is always an exciting, albeit slightly stressful experience for parents.
So it’s important that you’re aware of the best advice concerning child seats to ensure you and your children are as safe as possible.
In most cases, your child should use a car seat when travelling until they are 12 years old or 135cm (approx. 4ft 5 inches) tall – whichever comes first.
They must also ride in the back seat until this time to ensure their safety.
Once a child reaches 135cm or 12 years old, they can legally ride in the front seat.
To help ensure you’re ready for a getaway, the International Drivers Association has everything you need to know about travelling with children in the car.
Car seats are designed for your child’s height or weight, and as your child grows, you may need to change seats to fit their size.
Height-based seats are referred to as ‘i-Size’ seats – these must be rear facing until your child is 15 months old.
Weight-based seats come in different groups to accommodate the different weights of a growing child.
Whether you have an i-Size seat or a weight-based seat, it’s essential to check it is suitable for your child’s height and weight for their safety.
It is important only to fit a car seat if there is a diagonal seat belt available to use, or if the seat has been specifically designed for use with a lap strap, or if it has anchor points.
When fitting a seat, make sure you listen for the clicks that highlight it has been properly secured.
It’s also worth checking for any movement before setting off on a journey.
Seats will come with the manufacturer’s guides, so always refer to these when fitting.
The safest spot for your child in a car is the middle rear seat, as this will avoid impact from the sides or seats in front in the case of a crash.
Never try to adjust the car seat while moving – ensure your child’s car seat is set up correctly before the start of the journey, especially if you regularly switch between more than one family car.
Michael Bissona, IDA motoring expert said: “There’s no cargo more precious than children, so you really can’t take too many precautions when it comes to their car safety.
Parents and guardians should always follow the laws and rules and ensure they are prepared.
As well as risking their children’s safety, if you’re caught driving with a child without having a seatbelt or child seat in place, you could face a £500 on-the-spot fine.”
