WILTSHIRE Council is encouraging parents to ensure they check their child’s car seat is safe, after four out of every ten car seats recently tested by council officers were not fitted correctly.
The council, in conjunction with Baby 2000, carried out 139 free car seat checks at a number of supermarkets across the county in October. It was discovered that 59 of those tested were incorrectly fitted.
The vast majority of those incorrectly fitted needed adjustments or re-routing of the adult safety belt that holds the child seat in place, some were inappropriate for the child and some seats were inappropriate for the make of the car they were in.
Stephen Richards, director of Kidex, which runs Baby 2000, said: “The issues we saw in Wiltshire are the sort of problems we see on a regular basis and will continue until the regulations change.
“I think one problem is that people think all car seats are the same. Certain manufacturers have been able to make car seats very cheaply that comply with the current regulations as they use an old fashioned design.
“However, these don’t really fit most modern cars as the designs of seats have changed over the years. This means that in an accident they don’t do what they are supposed to do.
“We often see parents go for the cheaper option as it says it complies with the regulations, but the more they pay the better they get. We would recommend that parents buy from a respected dealer.”
Parents and guardians of children are legally required to fit their car with an appropriate car seat for the age and weight of their child.
As children grow at different rates, each stage of the child’s growth must therefore be adequately catered for at the appropriate time.
Wiltshire Council cabinet member for public protection Keith Humphries said: “The number of car seats fitted incorrectly highlighted the importance of these kinds of events. I’d like to thank everyone for taking the time to get their seats checked.”
Maggie Rae, corporate director, said: “This is an issue we will continue to promote and advise people on, because the safety of our children is vitally important.”
For more information or advice, visit www.goodeggcarsafety.com/ukincar
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