1 November 2005
DOE TO IMPROVE CHILD ROAD SAFETY
The Department of the Environment plans to improve road safety through increased wearing of seat belts and more appropriate use of child seats.
A consultation document published today proposes that:
- all children under 3 years old must use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in a car or goods vehicle (except in a taxi if a child seat is not available)
- children aged 3 or more years old and up to 135 cms (approx 4 ft 5 inches) in height, must use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in cars or goods vehicles fitted with seat belts (few exceptions are permitted)
- rear-facing baby seats must not be used in seats with an active frontal air-bag
- all child restraints must conform to modern safety standards (to apply from May 2008) and
- where seat belts are provided, the number of people carried in the rear of vehicles may not exceed the number of seats available fitted with seat belts or child restraints (to apply from May 2009).
DOE spokesperson Harry Green said: "The correct use of seat belts and child restraints has an important role to play in reducing child deaths and injuries on Northern Ireland's roads. The annual seat belt survey undertaken earlier this year indicates that whilst overall seat belt wearing by children has increased, around 1 in 5 children aged between 5 and 13 still travel unrestrained in the rear seats of cars. This is simply not acceptable. "Ensuring that children use booster seats until they are about 4 or 5 years old will bring real improvements to their safety. Seat belts are designed for adults and making sure our children use appropriate child restraints will afford them greater protection in the event of a collision.
"The Department's proposals take account of a European Directive which must, for the most part, be brought into force by May 2006."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
In 2004, in Northern Ireland there were 673 child casualties who were occupants of cars or light goods vehicles. These are vehicles in which seat belts are normally worn. 84% of casualties were found to be wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision, 5% were not wearing a seat belt and for 10% of child casualties it was not known whether a seat belt was in use.
Directive 2003/20/EC updates Directive 91/671/EEC, which must, for the most part, be brought into force by May 2006. The Directive requires child restraints to be used at all times, with few exemptions, instead of adult belts.
It prohibits the use of older style child restraints from May 2008 and the use of rear facing child restraints in seats protected by an active frontal air-bag. It also specifies that from May 2009, in vehicles where seat belts are provided, the number of passengers carried may not exceed the number of seat belts or child restraints provided.
The Consultation Document, 'Consultation on Compulsory seat belt and child restraint wearing requirements in cars and goods vehicles' can be accessed on the web at http://www.doeni.gov.uk/roadsafety
The closing date for comments is 6 February 2006.
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