Child Seat Belt Legislation

Seat Belts

The law on car seats for children in cars, vans and goods vehicles changed on the 18 September 2006.

• Children under three years MUST use the child restraint appropriate for their age and weight in any vehicle including vans and other goods vehicles. There is only one exception - a child under three years can only travel unrestrained in the rear of a taxi if the right child restraint is not available.
• Rear facing baby seats must not be used in the front of cars with airbags unless the airbag has been deactivated. Check the vehicle handbook and seat manufacturers' instructions before using a forward facing seat or a booster in the front passenger seat, to see if it is safe to do so.
• Where seatbelts are fitted, children from three years up to 135cm in height or 12th birthday (whichever they reach first) must use an appropriate child restraint.

Appropriate restraints include, forward facing child seats, booster seats and booster cushions suitable for the age and weight of the child. For these children, three exceptions allow them to travel in the rear but they must use an adult seatbelt. The exceptions are as follows:

1. For a short distance, in an unexpected necessity, if the right child restraint is not available e.g. taking a child to hospital unexpectedly. The exception DOES NOT cover regular school runs or other journeys, for instance transporting a child to a pre arranged sporting event;

2. All children up to 135 cm in height MUST use the correct child restraint. You may not carry more children than there are child restraints. If a car has three seatbelts in the rear and two occupied child seats or boosters prevent another one being fitted, an exception permits a third child, three years or over to use an adult seatbelt in the rear seat only. Note that a child up to 135 cm in a front seat of any vehicle MUST use the correct child seat or booster.

3. In a taxi, if the right child restraint is not available the child must travel in the rear and wear an adult seat belt.

• Young people aged 12 or over, or if they are over 135cm in height must use an adult seatbelt.

This information is not a definitive statement of the law.

For more information please look at the ROSPA and Think!webpages which cover the topic in some detail.