Child Car Seat Regulations - FAQ’s

20 March 2008

The new laws regarding the use of child car seats from 18th September are causing some confusion. It has been reported that some parents do not fully understand what they mean. We have listed some of the questions that we are frequently asked so that you can be prepared and your children can travel safely.

Below are some of the questions that we have been asked regarding the new regulations. If you have any questions or advice then please contact us.

Does this mean I can not carry a child in my car in just a seat belt if they are below 135cm?
That is correct. You may not carry a child below 135cm in your car without an appropriate restraint.

What if I can not collect my child from school? Can I ask someone else to collect them even if they don’t have the appropriate restraint?
You can ask someone else to collect your child as this is an ‘unexpected necessity’.
It does not mean that every day school runs are exempt.
However, a child under the age of 3 must always have a seat belt unless travelling in the rear of a taxi and a child seat isn\’t available.

What if I have more children in my car than I can fit car seats?
All children below 135cm should have an appropriate restraint, however, if your car has 3 seat belts in the rear and 2 children are using car or booster seats making the fitting of a third impossible, then the third child can use the third adult seat belt as long as the child is over the age of 3.
If the passenger seat is unoccupied and has an adult belt it is preferable that the third child sits in the front seat using the appropriate restraint.
You would not be allowed to carry a child under the age of 3 unless you had the appropriate restraint under any circumstances.

Can my child travel in the front seat?
Yes as long as they are properly restrained. You are advised to check what your car manufacturer says about children and air bags that are fitted to your vehicle and follow their advice.

Can I carry my child in a sideways fitted seat? Eg in a camper van or a four wheeled drive vehicle?
No. The restraint has to be fitted to an approved anchorage and this does not include a seat belt on a sideways fitted seat.

Can my child use the rear facing seat in the back of my car?
Yes, but an appropriate restraint must be used as with a front facing seat.

My car doesn’t have seat belts fitted. Do the new rules still apply and can my child travel in the car?
Yes, the rules still apply. A child under 3 can not travel in the car as they must use the correct restraint.
Children aged 3 and upto 135cm can travel in the rear only without an appropriate restraint. They could not travel in the front of the car as they must wear an appropriate restraint in the front of a car.

My car has seat belts in the front, but not in the rear. Can I carry children in the car?
Yes, but children under the age of 3 must always travel in the correct car seat, so they would need to travel in the front.
Children aged 3 and up to 135cm can travel in the rear, but remember travelling without a restraint is unsafe. You will not be required to fit seat belts by law, but cars dating from April 1982 will have anchorage points and so fitting seat belts should be easy.

Can I take children in a taxi without the appropriate restraint?
Children under 3 may travel in the rear only.
Children over the age of 3 may travel in the rear, but must use the adult seat belt.
Children over the age of 3 and up to 135cm in height may only travel in the front if they use the appropriate child seat or booster seat.

You can find information on what the regulations are in our article.

Written by admin · Filed Under Health & Safety