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Press releasesWho’s responsible for getting passengers to belt up?The bottom line is that the driver must ensure that all passengers under 14 years old wear seat belts* in the car. But every year around 30 children - newborns to 11 year olds - are killed in Britain while travelling in cars, around 450 are seriously injured and up to 8,000 slightly hurt. Road safety experts believe that the right use of child car restraints would prevent many of these deaths and injuries. According to a new nationwide survey, the vast majority of all motorists - 96% - already know that the buck stops with them when it comes to seat belt safety for young passengers. But when it comes to children OVER the age of fourteen, 87% of drivers think they are still responsible for getting their young passengers to belt up. In fact passengers of that age (and older) are responsible for their own seat belt safety, both in the front and back seats. Only 11 per cent of drivers know that these teenagers and older passengers are responsible for their own safety. The new survey was carried out by car breakdown service Autonational Rescue, whose marketing manager Ronan Hart says: “It shows how much confusion there still is over the seat belt laws and who is really responsible. “But drivers with child passengers should also make sure that they are kept under control so they’re not a distraction. “What’s more if drivers are involved in a crash where one of their passengers isn’t wearing a seatbelt they could even get a reduced insurance payout!” Today there are no excuses for the driver whose young passengers travel unrestrained. Currently, you and all your passengers must wear a seat belt if they are fitted (unless they are medically exempt) and the driver is solely responsible for anyone under 14 who does not wear one or who doesn’t have a child restraint if very young. Now the law on using child restraints in cars is set to be tightened up further. In May, the law will require ALL children travelling in cars to use child restraints, which means you MUST have them fitted should you drive an older car. Added Autonational’s Ronan Hart: “There is a clause in the current law which states that child restraints must be used if available. So if there is not one available then parents do not legally have to use one. “The new law will, among other proposed changes, remove the if available, and make it a legal requirement.” • But the dangers don’t stop when your human passengers are belted up! In a crash, an unrestrained pet can badly injure itself and other people in the car. At 30 mph for example a 50lb collie dog can be thrown forward with a force equivalent to almost nine 12 stone men! For smaller dogs specifically, a pet carrier or seatbelt harness are ideal safety devices, depending on the needs of your pet. And for larger dogs, safety harnesses can be bought that attach to seatbelts, while an ordinary dog guard may be useful keeping pets away from the driver, but it won’t protect your pet in a crash. The motoring survey was undertaken across Great Britain by RSGB Omnibus, part of the TNS Group. Ends *Or a suitable approved child restraint for very young or small children
For more information about Autonational Rescue, the car breakdown service with the no claims bonus, call 07000 999 911 Issued by CPR Works |
