Child Safety in Cars – September 2006
Frequently Asked Questions
The Minister for Transport has introduced new regulations dealing with child safety restraints. The Road Safety Authority is launching a public information campaign to raise awareness of what the new regulations mean for drivers and passengers, especially children.
What is the purpose of these regulations and new laws?
The purpose is to save lives and prevent serious injuries. Young children are particularly vulnerable. Fifty-nine children under the age of 16 were killed in road collisions, between 1996 and 2003, where safety restraints were not in use. Using safety belts and appropriate child safety restraints is a proven way to reduce risk and to save lives.
Ensuring a child is properly restrained in a car seat can reduce injuries by 90–95% for rear-facing seats and by 60% for forward-facing seats (source: AA Motoring Trust). Complying with these new laws is simply an issue of personal responsibility and common sense.
As a driver where can I go for help in understanding these new laws?
Because this is now your responsibility the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has updated and re-issued guidelines on child safety in cars. The RSA’s awareness campaign to inform the public of the new changes begins from 13th September 2006. The campaign includes national press advertising and an explanatory leaflet for distribution with Sunday newspapers.
The RSA is also producing a handy ‘height chart’ for retailers of Child Restraint Systems (CRS) which can be displayed in-store to check the height of a child.
In addition, the RSA has a number of resources on the topic of ‘child safety in cars’ which are available on request from: info@rsa.ie.
These include:
Child Safety in Cars – Booklet
Child Safety in Cars – DVD
No Child Car Seat. No Excuse leaflet (available in several languages)
What is my legal responsibility as a driver?
Right now, drivers of cars and goods vehicles are responsible for ensuring that passengers under 17 years of age comply with the requirements to wear a seat belt or an appropriate child restraint. The new regulations provide details and clarifications on these requirements.
What do these new regulations say?
Where safety belts have been fitted in a car/goods vehicle they must be worn by the driver and passengers.
Further,
- children under 3 years of age may not travel in a car or goods vehicle (other than a taxi – see below) unless in an appropriate child restraint,
- children aged 3 years and over who are under 150 centimetres and weighing less than 36 kilograms – generally children up to 12 years - must use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in cars or goods vehicles fitted with safety belts,
- children over 3 years or age must travel in a rear seat in vehicles not fitted with safety belts,
- rear-facing child restraints must not be used in seats protected with an active frontal air-bag.
How do these regulations apply to buses?
- Children aged 3 years or over must wear safety belts where they are fitted.
- Passengers travelling in buses fitted with safety belts must be informed of the requirement to wear them.
Why is there an exemption for taxis?
Child restraints come in several weight classes and it is unreasonable to expect that taxis, hackneys and limousines would always have the appropriate child restraint available.
What other exemptions apply to private cars?
Ireland has availed of an option to allow a child of three years of age or over to wear an adult safety belt in the rear of a passenger car or light goods vehicle (LGV), where two child restraints are already fitted, and it is not possible to fit another child restraint.
What do I do if I have more children in the rear of a car than there are seatbelts installed?
Ireland has availed of an exemption until May 2009 which allows children to sit unrestrained in the rear of a vehicle where seatbelts are not available. This concession, used responsibly, is intended to facilitate families with cars where the number of children is greater than the seats available for them.
Why is the older child defined in terms of 150 cm in height and weighing less than 36 kilograms instead of age?
Children come in all shapes and sizes at any age. Child restraints come in several weight classes. The upper limit of 150cms in height and 36kgs in weight corresponds to a child of eleven or twelve years of age. What is important is that the safety restraint used is appropriate to the height and weight of the child and is properly fitted.
What happens in the case of MPVs and SUVs?
MPVs and SUVs are treated as private cars unless they are registered as a goods vehicle.
Do I have to fit or buy extra safety restraints or seats?
Please see the leaflet provided by the RSA for appropriate weight and height recommendations or log onto www.rsa.ie/childsafetyincars
Note:
- 150 centimetres is equivalent to 4ft 11ins or 59ins and,
- 36 kilograms is equivalent to 5st 9lbs or 79lbs.
Can a child sit in the front seat of a car or a van?
For safety reasons, we recommend that all children are placed in the back seat of the car within the appropriate restraints however this is not always possible.
It is legal to place your child in the front passenger seat of your car or van within the most appropriate restraint for your child’s height and weight. There is no height or weight restriction for a child to sit in the front seat of the car, provided they are in the correct child restraint for their height or weight. Any child who is under 150 centimetres and weighing less than 36 kilograms – generally children up to 12 years - must use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in cars or goods vehicles fitted with safety belts.
However, rearward-facing child seats must NEVER be used in the front passenger seat of cars with an active air bag. If your child is sitting in a forward facing child restraint there is no need to switch off the air bag.
