RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

August 8 , 2006
EXPLAINING THE NEW CHILD SEAT LAWS IN SCOTLAND

A special briefing to help organisations in Scotland understand the full implications of new child seat and seat belt laws is being organised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

The law making it compulsory for children to use child car seats or booster seats comes into force on September 18.

RoSPA has organised a seminar at the Hilton Hotel, Glasgow, on September 28, to explain what the changes mean to people who organise transport for children or who give advice to the public in Scotland.

It will also cover new regulations requiring coach, bus and minibus passengers over 13-years-old to wear seatbelts where fitted.

Those likely to find it useful include teaching organisations, Sure Start, health promotion workers, social workers, voluntary organisations, charities, youth organisations, community transport groups, nurseries, local authorities and road safety officers.

Elizabeth Lumsden, RoSPA Road Safety Manager for Scotland, said: “We know there is concern in many organisations and among the public about exactly what the new law will mean for them.

“We will be providing answers to the most common problems they will face in implementing the new laws as well as offering a forum for exchanging views on what is likely to happen.

“The aim is to make children being transported around Scotland as safe as they can be and that is why we welcome the changes. Groups and individuals cannot afford to ignore what is happening and need to check they understand their responsibilities.

“Some organisations are in a position to spread the word so that parents in particular are not caught out. In the past, most children in cars have only had to be in an appropriate child restraint ‘if available’. That loophole will disappear in September, and children will not be able to wear an ordinary seatbelt in a car until they are over 4ft 5in, with very few exceptions.

“Parents need to be thinking now if they will need to buy new car seats for their children.”