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Child Seats in Vehicles

Summarised below are details of the new regulations governing the use of child seats in vehicles, which came into force on 18 September 2006.

Passenger

Front Seat

Rear Seat

Who is responsible

Driver

Seat Belt MUST be worn if available

  

Driver

Child up to 3 years*

Correct child restraint MUST be used*

Correct child restraint MUST be used*. If one is not available in a taxi, may travel unrestrained.

Driver

Child from 3rd birthday up to 135cms in height (approx 4'5") or 12th birthday whichever they reach first)**

Correct child restraint MUST be used***

Where seat belts fitted, correct child restraint MUST be used. Must use adult belt if the correct child restraint is not available:

  • in a licensed taxi/private hire vehicle; or
  • for a short distance for reason of unexpected necessity; or
  • two occupied child restraints prevent fitment of a third.

A child 3 and over may travel unrestrained in the rear of a vehicle if seat belts are not available.

 

Driver

Child over 1.35 metres (approx 4ft 5ins in height) or 12 or 13 years

Seat belt MUST be worn if available

Seat belt MUST be worn if available

Driver

Adult passengers (ie 14 years and over)

Seat belt MUST be worn if available

Seat belt MUST be worn if available

Passenger

In addition, the revised regulations also say that rear-facing baby seats MUST NOT be used in a seat protected by a frontal air bag unless the air bag has been deactivated manually or automatically.

* Children under 3 years of age MUST use the child restraint appropriate for their weight in all cars, vans and other goods vehicles, with the single exception for the rear of taxis. They cannot travel otherwise. This means for example that they may not travel in cars, vans or goods vehicles which do not have seat belts installed.

** Examples. A 7-year-old who is 140 cms tall is over the height for a child restraint and may use an adult seat belt. A 12-year-old who is 130 cms tall is over the age threshold and therefore may use an adult seat belt.

*** If no seat belts are fitted in the front, then children under 135 cms in height (who are also under 12 years of age) cannot travel in front.



The new laws will affect all drivers who have responsibility for transporting children and will also have an impact on the Council's licensed private hire and hackney carriage vehicles. The UK Department for Transport has recognised that it is impracticable to expect the right child seat or booster to be available in a taxi unless parents have brought one with them. Therefore there is a qualified exception so that if child restraints are not available in a licensed taxi or licensed private hire vehicle:

  • Under 3's may travel un-restrained but in the rear only;
  • Those 3 years and above must use an adult belt in the rear seat only;
  • A child up to 135 cms in a front seat of any vehicle must use the correct child seat or booster.

The driver of the vehicle is responsible for seat belt wearing by children under 14 years (except in taxis with fixed partitions).

For more detailed information on the new regulations, visit the Department of Transport's website or contact the Council's Licensing Office on 01743 281376.