Child car seats to be 'used to age of 11'

The Department for Transport said parents stopped using child car seats for their offspring far too soon. Its advice comes ahead of a requirement the European Union intends to impose on all member states by May 2006.

As part of a road safety campaign, the transport department published a survey of 700 parents or guardians which showed that six in 10 parents stopped using child car seats for their children when they were aged six or younger. One in 10 had stopped using child car seats for their children by the time they were three.

Only 41 per cent of parents of children aged seven to nine and just 26 per cent of those with children aged 10 to 11 said that their child always travelled in a child car seat. In 2002, 35 children under 11 were killed and 480 were seriously injured while travelling in cars. The Government has launched a campaign focusing on the fact that children up to 11 still need car seats.

David Jamieson, road safety minister has said that child restraints play a very important part in keeping children safe, and as such are vital that they are fitted correctly and that they continue to be used for as long as is necessary.

He further stated that he hoped this useful advice that is being issued would encourage parents that double-checking their use of car seats can improve their child's safety."

The head of child safety research at the Transport Research Laboratory, a private company, said: "Children travelling in cars need to be in a purpose-built child car seat or booster until they are either aged 11 or 150cm tall.

Adult seat belts do not fit properly and will put children at higher risk of injury, in particular to the chest, lungs, abdomen and spine, when compared to a purpose-built child seat. The Transport Research Laboratory did also point out, if there is no alternative, then restraint with an adult belt is better than no restraint at all."