Why can’t I use a rear-facing baby seat in a seat protected by an active frontal air-bag? Child restraints. Vehicle manufacturers advise against using rear-facing child restraints with air bags because, in the event of a crash, the air bag will hit the back of a child restraint, pushing it up and back towards the rear of the vehicle and potentially forcing a child out of the restraint. For this reason a rear-facing baby seat MUST NOT be fitted into a seat protected by a frontal air bag unless the air bag has been de-activated. A child in a rear-facing baby seat could be badly hurt by a frontal air-bag if it deployed. How do I know if my child seat is correctly fitted? • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully when fitting your car seat and keep the instructions in your car. Make sure that the child seats are tightly held in place. Make sure others know how to fit them properly if they are taking your children out with them. When I buy a new child seat, how will I know if it will fit my vehicle properly? Try before you buy. Some retailers offer a service demonstrating how to fit a child seat and will also check whether it fits. Manufacturers’ web-sites may have advice. Are there any exceptions to the law? Apart from the persons exempted in the above tables, certain other persons are exempted from wearing a seat belt, for example – • a driver performing a reversing manoeuvre or a qualified driver supervising it • an adult in a goods vehicle being used for collection or delivery, provided that the journey does not exceed 50 metres • an adult in a vehicle being used by the emergency services • a taxi driver while working • an adult in a vehicle being tested under a trade licence • an adult driving or riding in an older passenger car not fitted with seat belts • Contact the Isle of Man Road Safety Unit and look out for any fitting checks in your area. • a child riding in a vehicle being used by the police or the ambulance service. Can I use a forward facing child seat or booster in a seat fitted with an active air-bag? Yes, but check what the car handbook says about children in seats with frontal air-bags. We strongly recommend that advice should be followed because air-bags are powerful safety devices that must be treated with respect. Children, and adults for that matter, should not sit close to an active frontal air-bag. We suggest that the car seat should be as far back as possible from an air-bag. THE LAW ON SEAT BELTS This pamphlet is issued by the Department of Infrastructure as a guide only. The definitive legal position on the wearing of seat belts is set out in the Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 2007 as read with section 25 (as amended) of the Road Traffic Act 1985. I’ll need to get a child seat/booster seat or cushion now. How do I choose the right one and how much will that cost? • There is a range of products and prices. Some shops selling child seats have information on their websites, including prices. • Child seat types depend upon the weight of the child and if you need help, most retailers of child restraints will have trained staff that can help in choosing the right one. • Most seats will fit most cars but the advice is to try before you buy. Revised March 2012 . • a person holding a prescribed medical certificate, (badge in rear window of vehicle) • Some retailers offer a service demonstrating how to fit a child seat. Check your child seat is still fitted correctly every trip. Please comply with the law and make sure to set a good example during the school run. Sit safe, child safe For more information call the Road Safety Team Tel: 686671 www.gov.im/infrastructure Revised March 2012 Do the seatbelt rules apply in vans and larger commercial vehicles? Yes, to the extent indicated in the second table above. Legislation was introduced in 2007 requiring children in cars to travel in the appropriate child restraint until they reach either 135cm (4ft 5”) in height or 12 years of age. Adult seatbelts are designed for people with an adult bone structure and therefore smaller or younger children are not effectively protected using a seatbelt alone. The lap belt of an adult seatbelt needs to sit as low as possible over a person’s stomach. If the belt sits too high in a crash there is the risk of damage to a person’s internal organs as well as the chance that the child may slip under the seatbelt. Until children reach either 135cm (4ft 5”) in height or 12 years of age they must use the correct child restraint for their size and weight to ensure that they are in the right position. Drivers are legally responsible for passengers in their cars who are under 14 years old. The following guide will help ensure you stay within the law. For buses, coaches, goods vehicles and minibuses. Front Seat Rear Seat Driver Seatbelt must be worn Adult passenger i.e. 14 years or over Seatbelt must be worn Seatbelt must be worn Passenger Child under 4 years Correct child restraint must be worn (A rear facing child restraint must not be used in a seat protected by a frontal airbag unless the airbag has been de-activated) Correct child restraint must be worn (A rear facing child restraint must not be used in a seat protected by a frontal airbag unless the airbag has been de-activated) Driver Child from 4th birthday who is under the age of 12 years and under a height of 1.35 metres (4 ft 5 ins) Correct child restraint must be worn (a) Correct child restraint must be worn unless paragraph (b) applies (b) If no correct child restraint is available in the front or rear, an adult seat belt may be worn if the driver can prove that the child, because of an unexpected necessity, is being carried a distance of 5 miles or less Driver Correct child restraint or adult belt must be worn Driver Correct child restraint or Child at or over 1.35 metres (4ft 5ins) or who adult belt must be worn is aged 12 or 13 years Child under the age of 3 years in a taxi or private-hire car Correct child restraint must be worn (A rear facing child restraint must not be used in a seat protected by a frontal airbag unless the airbag has been de-activated) No seatbelt or child restraint need be worn (A rear facing child restraint must not be used in a seat protected by a frontal airbag unless the airbag has been de-activated) Driver Child of 3 years or more in a taxi or private-hire car (a) Correct child restraint must be worn unless paragraph (b) applies (b) Instead of a child restraint, an adult belt may be worn by a child at or over 1.35 metres (4ft 5ins) or who is aged 12 or 13 years Either a correct child restraint or an adult belt must be worn Driver Seatbelt must be worn Seatbelt must be worn Adult passenger in a taxi or private-hire car Passenger * Seatbelts are required to be fitted to the front seats in cars first registered from 1st January 1965 and to the rear seats in cars first registered from 1st April 1987. Driver Seat belt must be worn if fitted Adult passenger i.e. 14 years or over Seat belt must be worn if an available seat in the front or rear is fitted with a seat belt Seat belt must be worn if an available seat in the front or rear is fitted with a seat belt Passenger Child under 4 years Correct child restraint must be worn in coaches, goods vehicles and minibuses (A rear facing child restraint must not be used in a seat protected by a frontal airbag unless the airbag has been de-activated) Correct child restraint must be worn in goods vehicles and minibuses (A rear facing child restraint must not be used in a seat protected by a frontal airbag unless the airbag has been de-activated) Driver Child from 4th birthday who is under the age of 12 years and under a height of 1.35 metres (4 ft 5 ins) Correct child restraint must be worn in coaches, goods vehicles and minibuses (a) Correct child restraint must be used in goods vehicles and minibuses unless paragraph (b) applies (b) If no correct child restraint is available in the front or rear (i) an adult seat belt must be worn in minibuses (ii) in light goods vehicles (up to 3500kg max design weight) an adult seat belt may be worn only if the driver can prove that the child, because of an unexpected necessity, is being carried 5 miles or less Driver Child at or over 1.35 metres (4ft 5ins) or who is aged 12 or 13 years Correct child restraint or adult belt must be worn in coaches, goods vehicles and minibuses Correct child restraint or adult belt must be worn in goods vehicles and minibuses Driver Who is responsible Driver Who is responsible Driver For modern passenger cars* Front Seat Rear Seat It is important to choose the correct restraint for the age and weight of the child. Seat facing Weight and age Baby Seat (frontal airbag must be de-activated) Rear-facing For children up to 13kg (approx from birth to 9-12 months) Child seat Forward-facing For children 9kg to 18 kg (approx 9 months to 4 years) Booster seat For children 15kg and up (from approx 4 years) Booster Cushion For children from 22 kg (from approx 6 years) Typical examples The penalty for contravening the in car safety legislation is a £40 fixed penalty notice, and if the case goes to court the maximum fine is £500*. * Correct at time of print
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