Securing your child

Over the last decade a number of important changes have been made to UK law with regards to the use of child restraints and car seats in cars and goods vehicles. Gone are the days of just popping the kids in the back and hoping for the best; the law now states that children of all ages, from newborn to teenage, must be secured into a car. The responsibility to ensure everyone under the age of 14 is wearing a seatbelt falls on the driver and if there are not enough seat belts for everyone, children under three must be secured first.

The best way to know if you are doing everything in your power to keep your little passengers safe is to know the law, so here it is:

Summary of the law

Drivers

Seat belts MUST be worn if fitted.

Responsibility - Driver

Children under 3 years

Appropriate child restraint MUST be used in the front seat and/or in the rear seats.

Responsibility - Driver

Children aged 3-11 and under 1.35 metres

In the front seat a child restraint MUST be used. In the rear seat a child restraint MUST be used if seatbelts fitted.

Responsibility - Driver

Children aged 12-13 or over 1.35 metres

Adult seatbelts MUST be worn if available both in the front passenger and rear seats.

Responsibility - Driver

Adult passengers, 14 years and upwards

Adult seatbelts MUST be used if available both in the front passenger and rear seats.

Responsibility - Passenger

So essentially, unless the passenger is aged 14 or above, the responsibility is on you the driver the make sure everybody is safe and secure in the vehicle. You can be fined up to £500 if you don�t wear a seatbelt when you should be.