Car Safety Seats

THE INFORMATION BELOW WAS CORRECT AS AT 14 FEBRUARY 2017. HOWEVER IT MAY CHANGE IN THE FUTURE

 

New Regulations for Cars & Vans from March 2017

Current UK law states that all children must use the correct seat when traveling in a car until they are 12 years old or 135cm tall. New regulations were expected to come into force in January 2017. The new date is expected to be March 2017 when backless booster seats will only be approved for older children.

WHAT ARE THE NEW RULES?
Under the new rules, backless booster seats or booster cushions will only be approved for use by children taller than 125cm and weighing more than 22kg. Currently children as young as 3, or 15kg, are able to use a backless booster seat. This means that backless booster seats  will no longer be approved  for  young children.

DO I HAVE TO BUY A NEW SEAT?
The new child car seat regulations are expected to come into effect in March 2017, but these will only apply to new products. This means that if you’re looking to buy a booster seat after the regulation change, you’ll see that they’re only approved for children over 125cm or 22kg. If you’ve got an existing booster seat you will be able to use it without breaking any rules, but it is recommended that you buy your child a high-backed booster seat which can offer more protection in a side-impact crash situation.

WHAT’S THE ALTERNATIVE?
High backed booster seats for children aged 4-12 (group2/3) are recommended by experts as offering a safer alternative to a backless booster seat until your child reaches 125cm tall or 22kg.

Minibuses, coaches and vans

Details of the current legislation (Dec 2016) for Minibuses, coaches and vans are shown below.
If these requirements change these details will be updated as soon as they are known.

See

https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-a-child-can-travel-without-a-car-seat

Minibus or coach drivers and companies don’t have to provide child car seats. You must provide your own if you want to make sure a child has one.

Coaches

Children can travel without a car seat or seat belt, if they’re not available.

Minibuses

All children must travel in rear seats (any seats behind the driver) if a child car seat or an adult seat belt isn’t fitted.

Unexpected journeys

If the correct child seat isn’t available, a child aged 3 or older can use an adult seat belt if the journey is all of the following:

  • unexpected
  • necessary
  • over a short distance

You can’t take children under 3 on an unexpected journey in a vehicle without the correct child car seat, unless both of the following apply:

  • it’s a licensed taxi or minicab
  • the child travels on a rear seat without a seat belt

THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS FOR GUIDANCE ONLY.

PLEASE CHECK THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS IF YOU ARE UNSURE.

Answers have been sought to the following questions The answers (in red) have been provided by the Department of Transport in a letter dated 14 February 2017.

  • Are the minibus regulations changing? NO
  • From March 2017 – If a Scout is a passenger in a car and is younger than 12 OR under 125cm in height can they use a booster seat supplied by a parent that was bought before March 2017? YES
  • Are the “Unexpected journey” requirements changing? NO