0116 402 6500 Salary Exchange Eligibility Check

Salary Exchange Eligibility Check

Rated Excellent

Based on over - 800 Genuine Reviews

Price Match Guarantee

We won't be beaten on price - try us!

No Admin or Processing Fees

The price you see is the price you pay!

FREE UK Delivery On All Vehicles

We'll deliver straight to your door!

Pink Car Leasing Christmas Hours

Mon 25th Dec: Closed

Tue 26th Dec: Closed

Mon 1st Jan: Closed

Child Car Seats: Keeping your young passengers safe

Whether you’re nipping out to the shops or setting off on a longer trip, it’s essential that any young passengers are always carried safely in your vehicle.

As the driver, you need to ensure that any child seats or restraints are fitted appropriately for the age and size of the children you are carrying. You’re legally responsible for making sure that babies, toddlers and young children travelling in your vehicle are seated correctly.

It’s vital that you choose wisely when buying child car seats. A recent media investigation by the BBC’s Panorama programme found that cheap seats without the required safety labelling had been available to purchase online.

Reputable retailers ensure that their products have been through rigorous safety testing before they go on sale in the UK. Look for a clear orange label bearing the codes ECE R44-03, ECE R44-04 or ECE R129. That shows the seats have been thoroughly tested and can be legally sold here.

Always buy from a trusted source and follow the manufacturers’ installation instructions when fitting the seat or restraint. Keep the instructions in the car so they’re readily to hand when you need them. Some retailers offer free fitting, along with full safety checks when you purchase your seat.

Children under the age of three, must, by law, use the appropriate child restraints for their weight in any vehicle – and that includes vans and other goods vehicles. The only exception is when they’re travelling in the rear seat of a taxi, where, if the correct restraint is not available the child can travel unrestrained.

It’s against the law to use a rear-facing baby seat on the front seat unless the front passenger air bag is deactivated. And, of course, babies or children should never be carried in the lap of a passenger or the driver.

If a child is not wearing the right restraint, you could face a £100 fixed penalty notice or a fine of up to £500 if the case goes to court. Children aged three years and over, to either 135cm in height or 12 years of age, whichever comes first, must use proper child restraints where seat belts are fitted.

The only exceptions allowing children to travel in the rear and to use an adult belt are: in a taxi if the correct child restraint is not available; for a short distance in an unexpected necessity, if the correct restraint is not fitted; or, where two occupied child seats in the rear prevents the fitting of a third.

Since February 2017, companies have been prohibited from manufacturing backless booster seats for children who are less than 125cm tall or weigh under 22kg. These enhanced rules were introduced to make smaller children safer, as seats with backs are said to provide greater protection from side impact.

It might feel unnecessary to use a restraint or child car seat if you’re just popping down the road with your little one. But don’t tempt fate. Accidents can happen anywhere, at any time. An appropriate, properly fitted and legally approved product will help protect children, no matter how short your journey.

For more information and advice on the law relating to child car seats, visit www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/

Pink Car Leasing Christmas Hours

Search Our Deals

Search Our Deals

Search Our Deals

Child Car Seats: Keeping your young passengers safe