Seat Belts

[digger782]

Can anyone really clarify the following as I cant be the only owner that takes my kids out in the car.

2 of them are under 12 and under 4foot 5inches. Do I still need booster seats in the car with 3 point harnesses??? I would like their heads to remain under the roll bar!!! Local DVLA center aint got a clue!!

Thanks Graham

[TheUnixKid]

You could try calling the manufacturer of the booster seat and of the seatbelts then put together what they say. I'm not entirely sure who else would know that sort of thing.

[stevee8]

Have you looked on here Graham?
http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/ca...arseats.htm#01

Looks like you might also need to consider the childrens weight.

Life is never simple is it?

[stevee8]

Just had a thought..........

With all these requirements and if the police suspect the law has been broken, they will need sight of birth certificates for all children in the vehicle and carry out height checks (using calibrated/certified measuring devices?) and weight checks (using calibrated/certified scales)

How practical is this going to be to enforce?

[digger782]

I have just rang my local plod (Humerside) and guess what They don't know.
They say if in doubt you must have one!!!!!!
Crazy !!!!

[dave]

I think you will have to get clarification on exactly why this new law is in place and if it is to position the child in the car so that a seat belt does not cut across their neck then a harness would be fine with no booster.

Good luck.

[lutman]

Have had discussions with friends who run a play school. The rules are issued but not exactly how to manage them. basically if under age or under height they have to have the booster seats. This will remain until such time the local plod see sense in enforcement and are able to have a judgement call !!
Indeed the play school has had to invest in spare seats in case an assistant has to take a kid to the hospital and does not have a seat installed - or for all us tax payers -they will have to call out an ambulance for any minor items.
So until advised otherwise - booster seats in a Cobra are required to satisfy the new laws !!
Your point taken re the roll bar height - what next ?? Crash hats for all when roof off??

Chris L

[bitsilly]

I have not yet seen a recognised height for a booster seat or standardised calibrated booster seat measuring and seat foam compression measuring devices.
The leaflet sent home from the kids school says 'an adult belt must be used if on a short and occasional trip the correct child restraint is not available'.
It does not define 'short' or 'occasional'.
It's a £30 fixed penalty which applies once the police have first caught and processed everyone still using their mobiles, and prosecuted all hackney cab drivers without a bale of hay in the boot.

I would hope the copper has an ounce of common sense and listens to reason.

[Steve-Art]

Hi Graham,

I far as I'm aware the booster seats are to stop 'Submarining' (?) where the wearer shoots under the belts on impact.

I tried both my young nephew and niece in the car recently and there was no way I could get the lap portion of my belts to tighten enough to hold them in the seat securely so I would need boosters in the future.

Better to be safe than sorry, 'submarining' could snap their spinal column leaving them totally paralysed for the rest of their lives.

Steve

[tonym]

Originally Posted by bitsilly

and prosecuted all hackney cab drivers without a bale of hay in the boot

That's a fallacy i'm afraid. As are a lot of "urban myths" about hackney drivers, except the one about how good looking we are