Parents Urged To Check Child Car Seats

Four out of five seats are not installed correctly say Council

Hounslow Council is urging parents to check their child car seats, as research shows up to 80 per cent are incorrectly installed.

To tackle the problem, the council’s road safety team is holding two drop-on sessions next week where parents can get their seats checked to make sure they are protecting their children as they are supposed to.

In tests carried out last year, four out of five seats inspected by the team were found to be installed incorrectly, potentially putting the children who use them at risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Cllr Ed Mayne, Hounslow’s cabinet member for community safety and regulatory services, said:

“Child car seats should be appropriate for the type of car you drive, and be fitted according to the manufacturers’ instructions.  Even seats fitted by shops can sometimes be incorrect.

“I strongly urge parents to come along to one of our sessions to check that their car seats are installed properly and will keep their children safe.”

The two sessions will be held on:

• Monday 1 July:           Tesco Extra, Bulls Bridge, Southall UB2 5LN, 9.30am - 2.30pm

• Tuesday 2 July:          Tesco Extra, Syon Lane, TW7 5NZ, 9.30am - 2.30pm

The council has also been running a bus-back advertising campaign to promote in-car child safety.

To find out more about child car seat safety, visit www.hounslow.gov.uk/childcarseats

June 26, 2013