Almost 70% of child car seats checked by Powys County Council this month had not been fitted correctly, it has been revealed.
Over 100 seats were checked by officers from the council’s Road Safety Unit during October, with 69% requiring either a minor or major adjustment.
Cllr Barry Thomas, Cabinet Member for Road Safety, said: “Please do not be afraid in asking for our advice. Our road safety officers are trained and available to offer advice and show you the correct way to fit your child car seat.
“With so many makes and models of seats available, it can be confusing for parents and carers to know if the seat is correct for the child, the car and also to ensure that it is fitted correctly.
“We are also urging parents to ensure that everyone responsible for their child knows how to fit their car seat. We have seen a number of relatives who have said that mum or dad have put the car seat in and that is how it has stayed. If, for whatever reason, that car seat needs to be moved, that person needs to know how to re-fit it correctly.”
The council said that all Road Safety Unit members are trained to give advice on the fit and suitability of a child car seat and are available to conduct checks throughout the year. The free checks only take a few minutes and, most importantly, could save a child’s life in the event of a collision.
For advice or to arrange an appointment to check your seat, please contact your local Area Road Safety Officer on
road.safety@powys.gov.uk
You can even ask for advice via the Road Safety Unit’s Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/RoadSafetyPowys