Changes to the law around child car seats were introduced in 2006 in order to improve the number of children being killed or injured in road accidents.

The changes meant that all children travelling in vehicles within the UK under the age of 12 have to use some form of child car seat, unless they are taller than 135 cm (4ft 5in). The Department of Transport also recommends that children should continue using booster cushions or booster seats until they are 150cm (4ft 11ins) tall.

What are the rules?
Children under three: until their third birthday, babies or toddlers MUST use a child car seat appropriate for their weight in any vehicle regardless of where in the car they are sitting. Quite simply, if you are unable to fit a child seat for them, then they are unable to travel legally.

It is important to note that rear-facing baby seats MUST NOT be used in a front seat protected by a frontal airbag unless the airbag has been deactivated.

Exceptions: the only exception for children under three is if the child is travelling in the rear of a licensed taxi and there is no child seat available. In this case they may travel without a seatbelt.

Children three and over: until they are 135cm tall or 12 years old, a child MUST use the correct car seat. For children in this category, it would be illegal for them to solely use the adult seat belt apart from the following exceptions.

Exceptions: The only three circumstances in which children who are less than 135cm tall and under 12 years can travel in the back of a car using just an adult seatbelt are:

• in a licensed taxi if an appropriate child seat is not available
• for a short distance “for reason of unexpected necessity”. This is to cover situations of emergency where you have to pick up your child or someone else’s at short notice and you don’t have the correct seat with you
• where you have three children but can only fit two car seats in the back of the car. In this instance, it is advisable that the tallest of the three children use the adult seat belt.

Children over 12 years or taller than 135cm: standard seat belt to be worn at all times.

Who is responsible?
It is the driver’s legal responsibility to ensure that children under the age of 14 travelling in their vehicle are restrained correctly in accordance with the law. Over the age of 14, it is the passenger’s own responsibility to ensure they are wearing the seat belt.

Further information and guidance is available on the following sites:

General car seat information - www.childcarseats.org.uk

When your chid needs a car seat - www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Yourchildshealthandsafety/Roadandtravelsafety/

Fitting and using child car seats in your vehicle - www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Yourchildshealthandsafety/Roadandtravelsafety

Advice on car safety features and the UK’s only comparative crash test of child car seats - www.which.co.uk/cars/safety/car-safety-and-child-seats/

Carrying other people’s children safely - www.childcarseats.org.uk/carrying_safely/others/index