Child Travel & Safety News

The Jane Slalom Reverse, Rider, Matrix light and transporter are now instore and available for ordering, GREAT NEW RANGE AND COLOURS.

Many customers who visit the store are amazed at the large amount of stock instore and the range that we carry, it is well worth a visit and our customers tell us again and again how helpful and informative we have been, both with car seat advise and that all important pram/pushchair/travel system purchase. Why buy on the internet when you have a local store that offers great prices AND great customer service AND demonstrations that will help you decide the right system for you.

We now offer payment plans in-store to suit all budgets from as little as £10.00 per week on any item in the shop and 0% interest. We will tailor the payment plan to suit you.

We have now taken delivery of a new range of buggies and travel system called My Child and Nurse (Jane) good quality and value for money.

We have just been trained by Britax as one of their selected retailers to sell the Britax Multi-tech and Traveller Plus car seats. The Traveller Plus car seat is designed for children with special needs. Both these car seats can only be purchased instore.

Many more parents have decided to keep their children rearward facing in the car seat for much longer. This is due to the recent news highlighted on both BBC and other TV news channels. We stock both the Besafe Izi Combi and the Britax Multi-Tech rearward facing car seats and recommend that you come and see us to purchase these products.

In this section we highlight some of the of recent news items and events that affect child safety or travel products.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is currently in the process of introducing a law in Parliament that will state that children up to and under 1.35 metres should be restrained in the car with either a car seat or booster seat. Children under this height are not protected efficiently using the seat belt alone and this new law is to come into force 18th September 2006.

Britax is working with the DfT as an official partner to implement this legislation and has recently introduced a car seat to cater for children from 9 months to 11 years the Evolva 123 to ensure that parents are offered the safest product to meet the new legislation.

As a driver, you are legally responsible for passengers in your car who are under 14 years of age. The following guide will help ensure you stay within the law.

Summary of the law:

The Current Rules
	Front seat	Rear seat	Who is responsible?
Driver	Seat belt must be worn if fitted.		Driver
Child under 3 years of age	Correct child restraint must be used.	Correct child restraint must be used if available.	Driver
Child 3-11 years and under 150cms in height	Correct child restraint must be used if available. If not an adult seat belt must be worn.	Correct child restraint must be used if available. If not an adult seat belt must be worn if available.	Driver
Child 12 or 13, or 1.5 metres (approx 5ft) or more in height	Seat belt must be worn if fitted.	Seat belt must be worn if fitted.	Driver
Adult passengers (ie 14 years and over)	Seat belt must be worn if fitted.	Seat belt must be worn if fitted.	Passenger

From 18 September 2006 in cars, vans and goods vehicles
	Front seat	Rear seat	Who is responsible?
Driver	Seat belt MUST be worn if available.		Driver
Child up to 3 years*	Correct child restraint MUST be used*.	Correct child restraint MUST be used*. If one is not available in a taxi, may travel unrestrained.	Driver
Child from 3rd birthday up to 135cms in height (approx 4'5") (or 12th birthday whichever they reach first)**	Correct child restraint MUST be used***.	Where seat belts fitted, correct child restraint MUST be used. Must use adult belt if the correct child restraint is not available: - in a taxi; - for a short distance for reason of unexpected necessity; - two occupied child restraints prevent fitment of a third. A child 3 and over may travel unrestrained in the rear seat of a vehicle if seat belts are not available.	Driver
Child over 1.35 metres (approx 4ft 5ins in height) or 12 or 13 years	Seat belt MUST be worn if available.	Seat belt MUST be worn if available.	Driver
Adult passengers (ie 14 years and over)	Seat belt MUST be worn if available.	Seat belt MUST be worn if available.	Passenger

In addition, the revised regulations also say that rear-facing baby seats MUST NOT be used in a seat protected by a frontal air-bag unless the air-bag has been deactivated manually or automatically.

* Children under 3 years MUST use the child restraint appropriate for their weight in all cars, vans and other goods vehicles, with the single exception for the rear of taxis. They cannot travel otherwise. This means for example that they may not travel in cars, vans or goods vehicles which do not have seat belts installed.

** Examples. A 7 year old who is 140 cms tall is over the height for a child restraint and may use an adult seat belt. A 12 year old who is 130 cms tall is over the age threshold and therefore may use an adult belt.

*** If no seat belts are fitted in the front, then children under 135 cms in height (who are also under 12 years of age) cannot travel in the front.

In buses and coaches (including minibuses), seated passengers aged 14 years and above will have to use seat belts where they are fitted. Regulations requiring children 3 years to 13 years to use seat belts (or child restraints if they are available) in these vehicles will be brought forward as soon as practicable. The regulations will not include any obligation for anyone to provide child restraints in these vehicles.

Exceptions to the Law

Three exceptions allow children 3 years to 135 cms in height to travel in the rear and use an adult belt:

in a taxi, if the right child restraint is not available;
for an occasional journey over a short distance, if the right child restraint is not available;
where two occupied child seats in the rear prevent the fitment of a third child seat.

Children under 3 years may travel in the rear of a taxi unrestrained if no child restraint is available.