A third of parents 'do not know child car seat laws'

Date: 24/8/2010

A third of parents do not know the correct laws on child car restraints, new research has shown.

The Daily Mirror reported just one-in-five adults are aware of the rule that children must travel with a car or booster seat until the age of 12, unless they are 135cm or taller.

Furthermore, the study by Gocompare.com found 41 per cent of parents have driven with other people's children in their vehicle without following the correct car seat procedures, while 38 per cent have taken their own under-11-year-olds out without a car restraint.

Alternatives to car seats thought suitable by mothers and fathers include getting youngsters to sit on someone else's lap - cited by 15 per cent of respondents - and putting some books underneath them, which 10 per cent of parents said they would do.

Earlier this month, a road safety initiative was launched in Scotland to encourage motorists to wear a seatbelt every time they get into a car.

Posted by Sarah Bailey