New booster seat law vs classic cars
Discussion
There is no new law yet, unless it has been released in the last day. Which jumped the gun and released details of this new law when it was only that it was in discussion. The Government also released a statement stating that it would only apply to brand new car seats and wouldn't make existing seats outlawed.
Child car seat rules being reviewed, says Department for Transport - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36153451
Child car seat rules being reviewed, says Department for Transport - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36153451
When we had the last change to child seat arrangements, about 10 years ago. I had a long running exchange with the Department of Transport. I had had 3 point seat belts fitted in to the tiny rear seats of my XK150. These were fitted by Quick Fit. The (then) new law meant that children could not be carried in these seats without an approved child seat, but since the XK150 pre-dates seat belts, it is exempt, but only if the kids aren't wearing seat belt.
Yes that's right, it is legal to carry the kids without the belts, but if they wear the seat belts they must be seated in a type approved child seat.
When I first approached the DoT they gave me the names of two "specialists" I could discuss getting seats for the XK150 with. One was Stuart Quick (yes you've guessed it, of Quick Fit) and the other said, they'd pass any request like that straight on to Stuart. When I spoke to him he was extremely exasperated. He'd been around and around this loop with men from the ministry and in the end they'd done precisely what they'd be advised not to do.
I also had an exchange of emails with the guy in Australia responsible for their equivalent safety regs (he drives an XK).
Everyone (apart from the law) agreed that even if I could find a type approved seat that would fit it would be much more dangerous for the kids to be in it rather than in the child sized seats in car, and that I'd done the best I possibly could to protect my kids while they were in the XK. But I'd still be breaking the law.
I even have a letter in the filing cabinet signed by the Minister for Transport stating that it would be perfectly legal for me to carry the kids in the car without them wearing a seat belt and illegal for me to transport them wearing a seat belt.
In the end I posted this tale on one of the other forums here and one of the BiB replied back to say that firstly the result of breaking this law would be a small fine and no points. But, he couldn't imagine any serving policeman charging me for putting my kids in seat belts when it was legal for them to be carried without. Then that he could imagine the reception he'd get from a magistrate if he tried. Thirdly he said, "just what do you think the Daily Mail" would make of the case and of a letter from a Minister saying I can't let my kids wear seat belts.
At the end of the day I think you need to follow your conscious and do what you think is best to protect your kids. If you think the new law is likely to be endangering your kids and can explain why, then go for.
Yes that's right, it is legal to carry the kids without the belts, but if they wear the seat belts they must be seated in a type approved child seat.
When I first approached the DoT they gave me the names of two "specialists" I could discuss getting seats for the XK150 with. One was Stuart Quick (yes you've guessed it, of Quick Fit) and the other said, they'd pass any request like that straight on to Stuart. When I spoke to him he was extremely exasperated. He'd been around and around this loop with men from the ministry and in the end they'd done precisely what they'd be advised not to do.
I also had an exchange of emails with the guy in Australia responsible for their equivalent safety regs (he drives an XK).
Everyone (apart from the law) agreed that even if I could find a type approved seat that would fit it would be much more dangerous for the kids to be in it rather than in the child sized seats in car, and that I'd done the best I possibly could to protect my kids while they were in the XK. But I'd still be breaking the law.
I even have a letter in the filing cabinet signed by the Minister for Transport stating that it would be perfectly legal for me to carry the kids in the car without them wearing a seat belt and illegal for me to transport them wearing a seat belt.
In the end I posted this tale on one of the other forums here and one of the BiB replied back to say that firstly the result of breaking this law would be a small fine and no points. But, he couldn't imagine any serving policeman charging me for putting my kids in seat belts when it was legal for them to be carried without. Then that he could imagine the reception he'd get from a magistrate if he tried. Thirdly he said, "just what do you think the Daily Mail" would make of the case and of a letter from a Minister saying I can't let my kids wear seat belts.
At the end of the day I think you need to follow your conscious and do what you think is best to protect your kids. If you think the new law is likely to be endangering your kids and can explain why, then go for.
Mm, this becomes interesting because there a lot of cars on the market now, and certainly on the road, that could not fit a full child seat in the back.
We take our 4 year old out with us in my Triumph quite often.
I have made sure she is as safe in there as possible, but it has taken quite a bit of effort though.
She sits in the middle of the rear seat which is by far the safest place in the car. I have bolted an Isofix bar to a strengthened part of the floor, her seat is secured to this. She is in one of the highest rated child seats, which have the important extra side head support. I have fitted an inertia belt using the original bottom mounts with a strengthened top mount. I have removed the original seat back so the inertia reel works properly. It is all a bit makeshift but I think as safe as I can make it.
I am rebuilding a Rochdale Olympic, which does have small rear seats. I have tried the same car seat in and it barely fits when mounted on the seat base but I know I wouldn't take her in there in just a booster seat. I still don't know if I will ever be okay with her being in the car....
All a boost seat does is raise the level of the child up, to reduce submarining and bring the shoulder strap up to the relevant position. A child in a booster seat is no safer in a side impact.
You can buy inflatable booster seats which may fit more classics than some of the traditional ones....
We take our 4 year old out with us in my Triumph quite often.
I have made sure she is as safe in there as possible, but it has taken quite a bit of effort though.
She sits in the middle of the rear seat which is by far the safest place in the car. I have bolted an Isofix bar to a strengthened part of the floor, her seat is secured to this. She is in one of the highest rated child seats, which have the important extra side head support. I have fitted an inertia belt using the original bottom mounts with a strengthened top mount. I have removed the original seat back so the inertia reel works properly. It is all a bit makeshift but I think as safe as I can make it.
I am rebuilding a Rochdale Olympic, which does have small rear seats. I have tried the same car seat in and it barely fits when mounted on the seat base but I know I wouldn't take her in there in just a booster seat. I still don't know if I will ever be okay with her being in the car....
All a boost seat does is raise the level of the child up, to reduce submarining and bring the shoulder strap up to the relevant position. A child in a booster seat is no safer in a side impact.
You can buy inflatable booster seats which may fit more classics than some of the traditional ones....
Edited by alolympic on Monday 2nd May 10:39
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