FOUR out of five child car seats are incorrectly fitted in cars, recent research carried out by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has found.
As part of their ‘Check it Fits’ Service, the RSA has checked 30,000 child seats nationwide and the roas safety group said that worryingly 79 per cent of seats required adjustment and three per cent were deemed not fit for purpose.
To help address this problem, the RSA ‘Check it Fits’ service will be visiting Limerick SuperValu venues in Castletroy, Kilmallock and Castleconnell.
The free of charge 10 minute service will run from 10am to 5.30pm on January 29, 30 and 31.
The service offers parents and guardians reassurance that their child is safe while travelling in the car. If your child’s car seat or restraint is incorrectly fitted, the ‘Check it Fits’ experts will advise on how to fix the problem, demonstrate how to fit the restraint correctly and answer any queries participants might have to avoid potential serious or fatal injury in the event of a collision.
Top Tips for Parents:
· It is now EU law that all children must travel in a child seat, booster seat or booster cushion. The golden rule for choosing a child car seat is making sure it is suitable for your child’s weight, height and age and that it conforms to the latest EU safety regulations (look for the ‘E’ mark).
· Do not use age exclusively as a guide while picking a car seat, as every child is different.
· When buying a child car seat, make sure you go to a retailer who can show you how to fit it in your car. If the child car seat will be used in more than one car, make sure it’s compatible with additional cars as well.
· Avoid using a second-hand child car seat or restraint unless you know its history. It may have been damaged in a previous collision, and although the damage may not be visible, it won’t provide the same level of protection for your child.
· Don’t move your child from a rearward-facing child car seat to a forward-facing child car seat too soon. If you’re unsure, always consult with your retailer before you buy your next child car seat.
