car seats for children

[Dee Sa]

my grandson age 6 is coming for the weekend, he is coming by train as a treat, can I put him in my car from the station ? I dont have a childs car seat and this will be a "one off visit", is there any place I can hire one for the weekend ? will I be braking the lwa without one if his mother sits next to him and says its okay ?
what about if a child gets in a minicab ? they dont have child seats.
advice appreciated.

[ojread2]

Some cabs do carry child seats

As long as your grandson uses the restraints available and doesn't sit in the front, you will not be breaking the law

Personally, I would not hire one and feel your g/son would be safer on a cushion with a seat belt, not the lap belt by the way, in the rear of your car. You wouldn't know how many knocks a hired c/seat had had and I don't think there is anywhere that does hire them out anyway.

As a one off this is fine, but if it becomes regular you can buy booster seats in Woolies for �10 - why not buy one anyway? Cheap and it will last until your g/son is of an age whereby he won't need a car seat.

ojx

[Dee Sa]

thanks very much.Dee

[wa33letops]

children under 135cm in height must be in a car seat or use a booster seat.

[daffy654]

You will be breaking the law if your grandson is under the legal height requirement for travelling without a booster seat. At age 6 he probably is under this height so to avoid being fined you need to perchase one,they aren't expensive.

[annie0000]

All the above is true - if it is a one off unplanned journey you are ok to carry him in the rear of the car using an adult restraint. If it is planned you will need a booster seat - they are not expensive, maybe you could borrow one from a neighbour or ask on freecycle. Whether a booster seat is damaged or not is not of as great importance as it would be if it was a baby car seat. The booster is there to ensure that the adult belt supports the child in the right place - nothing more.

The driver is responsible for the safety of children in the car - irrespective of whether the mother says that it is okay or not.

Cabs should carry seats, but they probably get round the law by saying that it was unplanned.

[aims1202]

like others said you would be breaking the law. we had this problem when we went to visit friends and couldnt carry my sons booster on the train. my friend ended up being able to borrow one off a friend at work, is there anyone you could borrow one off? you could always buy a booster and then take it back saying it didnt fit the car, if its clean and not damaged they will probably take it back. there are really cheap ones in argos.

[Dee Sa]

aims1202,liked your suggestion to take it back, just up my street, luckily I have just found out that a friend has a spare one that I can borrow.
best regards Dee

[ojread2]

Cabs don;t get round the law, the law says for one of journeys they do not need a car seat

For one off journeys you do not need to use a car seat for a 6 year old. Granted it may be safer but it is a 'loophole' in the law

http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/campaigns/ch ildcarseats/childcarseats.htm see 2nd box down

However, it looks like Dee has found a solution

[ojread2]

my spellings/typos are horrendous this morning - sorry

[annie0000]

hi oj - I think the key word in that leaflet is "unexpected" - Dee Sa's journey is not unexpected. She could say it was if she was stopped, but that would be lying to an official of the law. I think the chances of that happening are slim, but it is dishonest - as would be taking back something that you have already used. I am glad that you have found a solution Dee Sa - I know that it is a short journey and the chances of anything happening are slim, but I am sure that you wouldn't want to take any chances with your grandson's safety. You may be confident with your own driving, but there are some real idiots out there! the court case is on at the moment of a driver who sped through a pedestrian crossing and killed a young boy who was crossing at a green light.

[sarnieken]

Think this has been answered but although the law states that children under a certain height do need the correct seat there is a small amount of leeway for 'one-off' journeys.

This is how Taxis get around it.
However, for a six year old you can get booster seats for easily less than a tenner.

I recently administered first aid at a road accident where a 6 year old child was killed and wasn't on a seat.
Not saying that it would have made much difference but any protection that you can give, it is your duty as the Grandparent to give it.