Children up to Age 11 still need car seats

New research from the Department for Transport (DfT) has highlighted that many parents are using inappropriate child seats in their car. The DfT's THINK! road safety campaign is urging parents to use child car seats or boosters for their children until they are at least 11 years old or 150cm tall. This reduces the risk of injury to children in the event of accident and is the best way to protect them when travelling in a car.

The research shows that many parents stop using car child seats far too soon. Over 60% of parents stopped using car seats for their children when they were aged 6 or younger. Only 26% of parents with children aged 10-11 years said their child always travels in a child car seat.

With many children being killed or seriously injured while travelling in cars the latest THINK! campaign is focusing on the fact that children up to 11 still need car seats. Adult seatbelts will not fit young children properly and will put them at higher risk of injury, in particular to the chest, lungs, abdomen and spine in comparison to a purpose built child seat. These are the recommended safety tips for children:

- Always take time to make sure the child's seat harness is properly adjusted and fastened.

- Make sure the child care seat or booster is properly secured by the adult belt every time you use it.

- Use a properly fitted, purpose build child car seat which meets the current safety standards and is appropriate for your child's height and weight.

- Beware when using a second-hand care seat that it meets the current safety standards and has not already been in an accident and that you have the correct fitting instructions.

- No child can sit in the front seat of any vehicle without using a seat belt or child car seat. Children under three can only travel in the front if they are strapped into a proper child car seat.

- Never use a rear-facing child car seat in a seat protected by a frontal airbag. Forward-facing child car seats should be as far back from the airbag as possible. Always check the car manufacturers advice.

For more information visit www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk or www.thinkseatbelts.com. See also www.childcarseats.org.uk.