Free Child Car Seat Checks Following Law Change
Council checks found that 76% of seats were faulty
Two car seat clinics are being held locally so families can get child car seats checked for free.
Hounslow Council’s Road Safety team will be on hand at two sessions:
• Monday 6 March, Tesco Osterley car park, Syon Lane, Isleworth, TW7 5NZ, 9am-3pm
• Tuesday 7 March, Sainsbury’s Chiswick car park, Essex Place, W4 5UT, 9am-3pm
The law regarding child car seats changed this Wednesday, 1 March and now manufacturers will not be allowed to sell backless booster seats for smaller children.
Currently, children weighing 15kgs [2st 5lbs]- which can include children as young as 3-4 years - can use a booster cushion [or backless booster seat]. But booster cushions made from 1 March 2017, will only be approved for older children that are 125cm tall and weigh 22kg and above [over 3st].
The change will not affect existing models which will still be legal to use, but safety experts are recommending a high-backed booster seat is more suitable as it offers more protection to the head and chest in the event of a collision.
Councillor Sue Sampson, Cabinet Member for Community Protection, Hounslow Council, said: “Our road safety teams ran these sessions last year and upon checking over 300 car seats, found that 76 per cent of them were found to have one fault or more.
“Even if you have recently had your child’s car seat checked, if you can get to one of the sessions, do so again in light of the new law. It is free to go along and any questions you have around car seats can be answered by our teams. “
For further details visit Hounslow Council's web page on road safety.
March 3, 2017
