* Child 'Booster
Seats' - New legal
requirements
New regulations
governing the use of
child car seats will
come into force on 18
September 2006.
The changes mean that:
* all children under
3 years old must use the
correct child seat when
travelling in any car or
goods vehicle (except in
the rear of a taxi if a
child seat is not
available);
*
children aged 3
years and under 12 must
use the correct child
seat/booster
seat/booster cushion
when travelling in cars
or goods vehicles until
they reach about 4' 5"
(135cms). Few exceptions
are permitted.
* Taller children and
all those aged 12 and
over need to use adult
belts.
* in mini-buses,
buses and coaches,
seated passengers aged
14 years and above must
use seat belts where
they are fitted.
Drivers are legally
responsible for making
sure that children under
14 years use seat belts
or child restraints in
cars and goods vehicles.
Those 14 years and above
are responsible for
themselves. A £30 fixed
penalty notice can be
issued for
non-compliance. If a
case goes to court, the
maximum fine is £500. In
2004, there were some
200,000 fixed penalties
issued by the police and
about 5,000 cases went
to court.
This change in
legislation
WILL
have an impact when
you're asking parents
etc to transport
Beavers, Cubs and Scouts
to events. Will
there be enough booster
seats to make the
journey legal?
