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UK Wedding News

07/12/2016

Parents Confused By Child Car Seat Law Change

A new study has revealed that a majority of parents are unsure about the current laws regarding child car seats.

The research, commissioned by confused.com, found that some 66% of parents with children under the age of 12 did not know about the current laws.

The findings have been published ahead of new child booster seat laws, which are expected early next year and could extend the use of booster seats with backs to older children. However, 56% of parents are unaware of the new regulations.

Currently, the law states that children must use the correct car seat for their height, age and weight until they are 12 years old or 135cm tall, whichever they reach first. People are permitted to use backless booster seats for children weighing more than 15kg (the average weight of a three-year-old child).

Under the new regulations, booster seats with backs will be extended to children who are up to 125cm and weigh up to 22kg. This equates to the average height and weight of children aged between six and eight years old. Yet these rules will only apply to new products on the market.

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In other words, parents who already own and use backless boosters will still be permitted to use them.

With the changes expected as early as March 2017, just 13% of parents know the correct details of the new rules. A further 27% said they are confused about conflicting safety messages.

When it comes to safety in the car, 46% of parents believe booster seats with backs to be safer than backless boost seats, but 17% confessed that they either rarely – or never – use a booster seat for their child.

Some 34% said they had not used a booster seat for their child at some point.

Excuses given include switching over to another car and they had not transferred the seat across (33%), 26% said it was because they didn't think their child needed one, while 25% argued that it was only a short trip they were making. 9% said it was because they simply forgot.

Amanda Stretton, Motoring Editor at Confused.com, said: "Given parents' confusion about the current car seat regulations, the new rules about backless booster seats will make it even trickier for parents to understand how to keep their children safe.

"The fact that backless car seats will still be acceptable to use if they were bought before the law change sends mixed safety messages.

"If regulations for manufacturers state that heavier and taller children should be using booster seats with backs then why aren't the same rules being extended to parents?

"The messaging needs to be simplified so parents are certain which type of seating will provide their children with the best protection."

(JP/MH)

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"A new study has revealed that a majority of parents are unsure about the current laws regarding child car seats."