Four in ten parents do NOT leave their children in a car seat, shocking new figures reveal
- Car seats are required by law until a child is 12 years old or 135 cm tall
Four in 10 parents have admitted breaking the law by not letting their children sit in a car seat, a new survey has found.
New research shows that 38 percent of parents in Britain don’t always leave their child in a car seat.
This is despite the fact that car seats are required by law until a child is 12 years old or 135cm tall, whichever comes first.
Research shows that a quarter (22 percent) even allow children under 15 months to face forward, which is also illegal.
The shocking new figures, obtained by Halfords, show that many parents are not adhering to the law and are putting their children at risk.
Four in 10 parents have admitted breaking the law by not letting their children sit in a car seat, a new survey has found. And 22 percent had baby seats incorrectly facing forward (archive photo)
Two-thirds (66 percent) of people with children under the age of 12 say they are trying to make child seats ‘last longer’ because less money is available at the moment.
A quarter of those (26 percent) who admitted to being concerned about the cost of living revealed that their child uses a seat that doesn’t fit in a bid to save money.
Surprisingly, not many parents fully follow the rules to keep their children safe.
Only 62 percent ‘always’ adhere to the rules for using a child seat, while the remaining four in ten (38 percent) do not.
Parental admissions also extended to the travel habits of many younger passengers.
With proportionately heavier heads and more delicate necks, babies under 15 months are legally required to travel facing backwards. It is also highly recommended to travel in the back seat.
But despite this, only half of parents say their children travel rear-facing in the back seat. Three percent admit to not using a child seat at all and instead just being held by an adult, putting them at risk of being tossed. around the car in the event of an accident.
Halfords chief executive Graham Stapleton said: “As a parent and road safety advocate I am deeply concerned by these figures.
Two-thirds (66 percent) of those with children under 12 said they were trying to make child seats ‘last longer’ as money is tightening at the moment. File photo
‘Adult seat belts are simply not suitable for children and may not hold them in place in the event of a serious accident, potentially placing children in fatal danger.
‘We are very aware of the impact the cost of living crisis is currently having on families across Britain, and that it may be tempting to try to make car seats last a little longer, even as children start to wear them. outgrow.
‘Saving for the full cost may take some time. To help parents with this, we offer interest-free credit on child seats, so they can get a car seat when they need it, even if they haven’t received the full amount upfront.
‘There are also many rules, regulations and guidelines to consider when purchasing a car seat. That’s why we offer a suitable demonstration service so that parents can receive tailor-made advice to make the best decision for their child.
‘For those who can’t get into store, we also have a comprehensive list of easy-to-follow guidelines on our website.’