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andrea10163

Very confused over issue of new child restrain law due to start on Monday. Quote from my local rag says

"when any child under the age of 12 or under 135cm in height must travel using the correct restraint"

I take this to mean that my child who is over the height limit but under 12 needs a booster seat.

but.....then the rag finishes off its article saying

"Put simply, drivers cannot carry children using an adult seat belt in a vehicle until they reach 135cm in height, or 12 years of age, whichever comes first."

As far as I am aware the whole issue has arisen because adult belts do not sit on the right area of the childs body without the added height of a booster seat and that because their bones are still soft and easily injured. Fair enough, but what about a 7 year old who is over the 135cm limit.....does that mean they are ok to use adult belt, even with soft bones. This whole things has been hurried through parliament without much thought I think. Mad

AlanE · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 5:17 pm Post subject:

You might be better asking those will be enforcing the regulations for definitive answers over any Statutory regulations. In this case the police.

However you have, it would appear, answered your last question yourself regarding an under aged person who exceeded the height stipulation where you say:

andrea10163 · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 6:25 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your reply. I think the majority of people who have children under 12 but over the height limit are not using booster seats. What would have been better, considering the government felt it necessary to create this law, was to provide every child under 12 with a correct restraint. I have a friend who has 4 out of 9 children who need a restraint and it is quite costly to provide these. People going round houses and checking would have been helpful. I do feel that this whole thing has been thrown upon us, with not much thought.

andrea10163 · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 6:27 pm Post subject:

Opps forgot to answer about the booster seat question. Basically if your child is under the height required to enable it to use an adult seatbelt, it will need to sit on a booster seat.

Very Happy

AlanE · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:19 pm Post subject:

I know what you are saying not complying with new or existing regulations regarding the use of appropiate restraints for young people is perhaps rife. A bit like flaunting the mobile phone laws.

I also appreciate your comment regarding the cost of these items but may I suggest that is small considering the possible higher cost involved?

Where am I leading? Prior to my heating and plumbing career I was an operational member of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and part of those duties meant driving the stations rescue tender.

That appliance attended, amongst other incidents, road traffic accidents of varying severity and I have witnessed the effects of wearing inappropiate seat belts in cars. At that time less was known about the effects of adult belts on juvinile passengers however in the fullness of time somebody has made an effort to reduce the risk of personal injury, and I can assure you some is horrendous.

Maybe these regulations are not perfect, that is not for me to give opinion on, but I would say if they save just a few families the grief I have seen some suffer then maybe they are worth it. What price is saving a child having to spend a life in a wheelchair, in constant pain??