Motorists urged to belt up with child seat laws

ROAD-USERS were urged to make sure child passengers are properly belted up according to new EU regulations at the launch of a major road safety campaign yesterday.

The campaign, No Child Car Seat, No Excuse, was launched to raise awareness of new EU regulations which call for all passengers under 12 to be placed in an appropriate child restraint.

Under the regulations, all passengers aged three years and over, who are less than 150cm tall (5ft) and weigh less than 36kg (5st 9lb) must use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in vehicles fitted with safety belts.

Children over three years must travel in a rear seat in vehicles not fitted with safety belts. And rear-facing child restraints must not be used in seats protected with an active frontal air-bag.

On buses, all children over three must wear safety belts, where fitted, and passengers must be informed of the obligation. Taxis are the only vehicles exempted from the legislation.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA), which is coordinating the campaign, said that between 1996 and 2003, 59 children were killed on Ireland’s roads in vehicles where safety restraints were not used.

The RSA reminded drivers that properly securing a child passenger can reduce injuries by as much as 95% for rear-facing seats and 60% for front-facing seats.

Transport Minister Martin Cullen said at the launch: “Children are among the most vulnerable road users. I urge all parents and guardians to ensure that their children are using the proper child restraint.”

RSA chief executive Noel Brett urged parents to act responsibly.

“The minister has produced the legislation, and now the authority is providing the information, advice and support to help parents and guardians in this task,” he said.

“We are asking parents and guardians to only purchase child safety seats from retailers who are prepared to show them how to fit the right seat into their car and to check that it fits and is appropriate for the child.”

At the launch, Dr Alf Nicholson, consultant paediatrician at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, said Ireland’s child road fatality rate was double that of Sweden.

“Far too many children travel in cars without appropriate restraints or in the front seat. Enforcement is the key. Insist on ‘clunk-click every trip’, no matter how short the trip may be,” he said.