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PostPosted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 09:36 
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BBC News

Quote:
Two-thirds of car seats 'unsafe'

Two out of three child car seats tested by trading standards officers in Newport were unsafe, putting children's lives at risk, research has found.
Trading standards officers made 88 checks on cars in the city during the summer and found only 22 seats were installed correctly.

Officers said they were shocked by some parents who claimed they did not have time to fit the seat correctly.

New regulations governing the use of car seats came into force last month.

Newport councillor Ray Truman said: "No parent would want to put their child at risk of serious injury but that is exactly what is happening by not having the right car seat installed.

"Most parents realise how important it is to have their children restrained, but it is just as important to be using the right one. "Even in a minor crash not having the right restraints can cause serious injury to children.

"If a child is not in the correct seat or harness, their spine will stretch on impact, and could rupture causing severe injury."

Since the new laws were introduced in Wales, England and Scotland on 18 September, drivers who do not ensure that the seats are correct could face a fixed penalty fine of £30, or a court fine of up to £500.

The UK Government claims the move could save up to 2,000 children a year from death or injury in road accidents.


Well that's another fine mess you got me into.

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PostPosted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 13:40 
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That's been the case for years and years though. Someone is always doing this survey and getting similar results. The main problem is not doing them up tightly enough. The thing is, all these issues are relative. I currently have a rear-facing kiddie seat approved to Reg. 44.03. I know I could improve safety by binning it and getting one tested to 44.04. Better still, I could get a newer car with ISOFIX anchorages AND get a better seat. And then, I could go one better and get a really tall, heavy 4x4 with more EuroNCAP stars (with ISOFIX) ...

...and so on.

When I first opened the thread, I expected it to be about how there were still lots of pre-ISOFIX seats currently in use and these are much less safe than the current generation and how any parent worthy of the title should get their butt down to their local Halfords / Mothercare / whatever shop and buy a new one now!


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PostPosted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 14:09 
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I don't beleive the law requires the seat to be correctly fitted, whatever correctly fitted actually is and who is qualified to make the judgement.

I hate it when they imply its 'agianst the law' not to fit the seat correctly.

can anyone point me to any legislation to the contrary?

child seats are a major pain I can't see why a child needs a booster seat in a car with fully height adjustable seats and belts. Surely its about making the seat belt fit the child not the child fit the seat belt.

the device featured on dragons den a while back is much simpler


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PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 23:08 
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I've never seen a car with height adjustable rear seats!?

The problems are much more complex than that depending on the age, size and weight of the child. Getting the belt to lie correctly is only a small part of the problem - especially in younger kids.


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PostPosted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 19:51 
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Yep.. our two young rogues in particular hate these seats. Andrew grumbles and Lukas is only just one centimetre within the limit. Fortunately - because we are a large family - he is legal with a normal belt provided he's sandwiched between Andrew and Rachael.

Seats though vary in quality - and the most expensive ain't necessarily safer than a cheaper version either. Overall - like everything else - standards do improve with new manufacturing techniques and standards - and I tend to use a good make and read opinions in the car mags and Wildy willl flick through the Mother/Baby/Supernanny mags at the magazine racks for their reviews as well.

May sound a bit corny - but I would suggest buying one copy of the Supernanny and the like as they all give a pictorial step-by step practical as to how to choose the right seat for your tot and how to strap the little rascal into it! :lol: and there's some practical advice as to how to deal with the tantrums over it too - and I think overall sound advice. :wink:

But it's how you fit them into the car and fasten the child into it. We have been very firm with the rogues and we placed them back in seats as soon as I heard about this law back in March (I think?) I posted up my concerns at the time anyway.. young kids don't understand and think "parents.. :roll: :roll: :roll: !"

I explained carefully and tactfully to the rogues about why they were now having to use a booster seat. Both boys were scathing about "them meddlers" :hehe: and Lukas even penned a rather scathing letter to our local MEP about it. Am pleased to say that he has no worries about being in the car with his Papa.

I cannot resist showing off a letter he wrote to our MP/MEP to complain about all this!

my son's letter to MP and MEP wrote:

I am safe enough with a seat belt. I've been that way for years until this silly law. Anyway Im just one centimetre too short and it means my Papa has to buy a seat for me. He's always complaining about me eating him out of house and home and Mama's always replacing my shoes and trousers which are almost always what she calls "half mast knicklerbocklers"! I think he's wasting his money because I am a big boy and the tallest in my class.

Papa's a smooth driver. But I just wish Papa would drive faster though! Mama's a lot cooler!


:rotfl:

Oh dear - I fear he's marked Wildy's card there :hehe: Hang on! He-he's suggesting his Papa's not 8-)

:shock: :? :oops:

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PostPosted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 23:45 
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Just one thought to add to that:

If you've a relatively new car (say made after about 2000) it would be worth looking in the handbook and seeing what makes / model of child seat(s) they recommend. They are obliged to do this.

A seat that fits and works well in one car might be a disaster in another!


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