Experts help Parents tackle child seat law

07-09-2006 10:06

Parents across the country face the difficult task of coaxing children as old as 12 back into child booster seats with the new child car seat regulations coming into force this month (18 September).

In support of the new laws, Norwich Union has teamed up with Claire Halsey, clinical psychologist and expert on ITV1's 'Driving Mum & Dad Mad', to develop a series of fun, easy tips to help parents get older kids back into booster seats and make for an altogether safer car journey.

Claire said: “If your child has been used to using an adult seat belt, but as a result of the new regulations needs to go back to a child seat, the challenge to a parent will be in finding ways to encourage this without tears and tantrums!”

• WORK IT OUT TOGETHER - Encourage your child to research whether they need a booster seat. Finding out the facts together will help prevent them from feeling they are being treated like 'babies'_.

• KEEP THEM BUSY! - Have a selection of books, magnetic or computer games to play with in the car which will keep them entertained and will distract them from the fact they are in a car or booster seat
• PERSONALISE THE SEAT - Let your child choose their booster seat from a selection that meet the new guidelines. By choosing the colour and style and allowing them to decorate it with stickers this will encourage them to feel happy to use their seat and they can enjoy showing it off to friends and family
• EXPLAIN SAFETY TO CHILDREN - Keep it simple and say: “We all put our seat belts on in the car to keep us safe.” And remind them that being safe in the car is a lot like wearing a cycle helmet when they are out on their bikes!
• MAKE IT A RESPONSIBILITY - When there is more than one child in the car, encourage the older ones to teach younger ones by example. This differentiates them from younger siblings and will make them feel more adult and responsible
• PULL OVER IF CHILDREN UNBUCKLE - Park and wait until all seat belts are safely fastened again. Keep on stopping every time they unbuckle, until children get the idea that belts off means a very slow trip!

Brian Bridges, motor underwriter at Norwich Union, comments: “As a leading provider of motor insurance, Norwich Union is aware that too many children are killed or injured during accidents on the road when the appropriate child restraint isn't used. Our research shows that children as young as 6 may have moved to using an adult seat belt and this simply isn't giving them the protection they need.

“The new regulations are a welcome revision and Norwich Union gives full support to the Government for taking the issue of child car safety seriously. We advise parents to familiarise themselves with the new changes due from 18th September and take onboard our recommendations to ensure their children are as safe as possible.”

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