Parents are putting their children at risk of death or serious injury by using poorly fitted child booster seats, spot checks have revealed.
Only one in seven children were strapped in safely and placed in seats of the right size, according to a series of spot checks.
Five per cent of seats were condemned as “completely unsafe” – meaning parents were “significantly increasing the risk of death or serious injury to their children” in the event of an accident.
Half of these seats were removed on the spot during the checks.
Motorists face £100 fine for poorly fitted child booster seats
Motorists judged to be using a baby booster seat that is not appropriate for the child’s height or weight also risk a £100 on-the-spot fine.
The most common fault was the harness or seatbelt being too loose, twisted or incorrectly positioned.
The roadside analysis was carried out by What Car? Magazine in conjunction with Leicestershire Police.
Two thirds of cars checked had poorly fitted child booster seats
They checked 85 seats in 51 cars and found only 36 per cent were fitted correctly.
This figure slumped lower still to just 15 per cent when the age, height and weight of the child were compared with the size of the car seat.
While three-quarters could be corrected at the roadside, four of car seats were condemned and had to be replaced before drivers were allowed back on the road with children on board.
Special seats must be used until children reach the age of 12 or 4ft 5in in height, whichever comes first.
Child booster seats with Isofix attachments a “better option”
Of the cars stopped in the roadside test those having seats with Isofix attachments – the international standard for attachment points for child seats – were passed as being correctly installed and appeared to be a better option for parents.
What Car? editor Steve Huntingford said unless Isofix seats were used there would continue to be uncertainty over safety.
He said: “At best drivers could land themselves with a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice, but at worst they are significantly increasing the risk of death or serious injury to their children. It’s a form of Russian roulette that drivers are playing.”
Parents urged to seek advice when fitting child booster seats
He urged parents and carers of children to seek professional advice about fitting car seats.
He said: “We go to great lengths to ensure the safety of children in many aspects of daily life, and it is shocking that the proportion of unsafe child restraints in their cars was so high.”
New laws covering child booster seats
Are you up to speed on the new child booster seat laws which came into effect in March?
Your young passengers are a very precious cargo so it makes sense to be sure your car and its valuable contents are well insured.