The consequences of a road traffic accident
can be far more serious if children are not put in a car seat, personal injury solicitors Burnley have warned, after checks on motorists in
Weston-super-Mare revealed a huge proportion of car seats appear to be
badly-fitted.
North Somerset Council road safety officers
and Avon and Somerset Police recently ran a safety enforcement day, waiting on
Winterstoke Road in Weston to stop vehicles with children inside. Car safety
specialists looked at a total of 169 car seats and discovered that while 95
were fitted properly, the remaining 74 were badly fitted, unsuitable for the
child or incompatible for the car. Many parents were told that they should buy
a new child car seat as soon as possible.
Furthermore, a total of nine children were
found to be sat in a car with an adult seat-belt, despite being under the
legally required height of 135cm. Vehicles containing these children were
forbidden to continue on their journey until safe transport arrangements had
been organised for the children.
While the maximum fine for failing to ensure
children are seated legally is £500, no win no fee solicitors Lytham St Anne's
warn that drivers could face far more serious consequences if they are in an
accident with a child who is not sat in a safe and appropriate manner.
Furthermore, their car insurance could be invalid and they could be liable in
personal injury claims or other civil claims. Drivers could also be deemed to
be carrying passengers in a dangerous manner - a far more serious offence, with
a possible fine of £2,500 plus three driving licence penalty points.
The council noted that the majority of
drivers appeared to be grateful for the recommendations made by car safety
experts and were happy to have been stopped.
There are three circumstances in which
child car seats are not legally required for children under the age of 13 or
under 135cm tall. These are:
- - In private hire vehicles and licensed taxis
- - When there are two occupied restraints that prevent a third from being fitted
- - When travelling short distances for unexpected, necessary reasons
