Local warning over kids car seats

04/08/2015 @ 02:09

More than two thirds of children’s car seats that were checked locally last year proved to be unsafe, but an initiative is ensuring that the figure comes down.

Residents in the Welshpool area can have their seats checked by Powys County Council’s Road Safety Unit for free next month to ensure that they are fitted correctly.

Good Egg Safety, which has tested 20,500 child safety seats in England, Wales and Scotland since 2002, found that 71% tested in Wales were unsafe last year.

During 2014-2015 in Powys, the council’s Road Safety Unit checked 290 child car seats and found 189 had faults, which were rectified by trained road safety officers.

The figures come at the same time as Department for Transport statistics revealing that the number of child deaths or serious injury on Britain’s roads has risen for the first time in two decades.

The vast majority of faults included wrong seatbelt routing and twisted belts or loose seats, which may contribute to serious injuries in the event of a vehicle crash.

Cll John Brunt, Cabinet Member for Road Safety, said: “I encourage anyone who uses a child car seat to make use of this important service. These checks will not cost you anything and could ultimately save your child’s life.”

Sarah Morris, the council’s Senior Road Safety Officer, said: “Every year around 100,000 children in the UK are involved in collisions and the fitting of their car seat can have a serious impact on whether or not they are injured.

“We check the car seat to see if it is suitable for your child and if it is compatible with your vehicle. If the seat or the harness needs to be adjusted, our officers are trained to show parents or carers how to fit the seat correctly.”

The car seat clinic takes place from 9am-4pm at The Old Station Car Park on September 10.