Car Seat Law

[MadProfessor]

I'm trying to understand what the law with respect to car seats actually says/means.

We have three children. A new baby who will go into a rear-facing car seat. A two-year-old in an age-appropriate forward-facing car seat. And an 8-year-old who up to now has both a booster cushion (purchased when they were still legal to buy) and a high backed booster seat.

We cannot fit all three car seats across the back of our current car, a Range Rover L322. A quick Google demonstrates that essentially very few cars offer 3 car seats across the middle row (Audi Q7, XC90, Ford Galaxy, for example).

It, therefore, looks like we will have to change vehicles but in the short term until the any new car arrives we may have a few weeks or a few months when we're stuck with the current vehicle.

The Government website:
https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-...

Implies that when you can't fit three car seats across the middle row that the eldest could travel without a car seat in the back using the adult car seat.

What I don't understand is whether this "exemption" from the law applies if the two outside car seats are fitted but the children are not in them. For example, on the school nursery run we would drop the toddler off and then drive on to the school to drop the eldest off. Sometimes, the baby may also stay at home with my wife whilst I do the school run and hence after we've dropped the toddler off both seats would be fitted but empty.

The NCT website implies that this would be illegal but I don't know if this is true:
https://www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/getting-out-ab...

[solo2]

You don't need to change your car you just need to change the rear seats to a Multimac

https://www.multimac.com/home

[meatballs]

MadProfessor said:

I'm trying to understand what the law with respect to car seats actually says/means.

We have three children. A new baby who will go into a rear-facing car seat. A two-year-old in an age-appropriate forward-facing car seat. And an 8-year-old who up to now has both a booster cushion (purchased when they were still legal to buy) and a high backed booster seat.

We cannot fit all three car seats across the back of our current car, a Range Rover L322. A quick Google demonstrates that essentially very few cars offer 3 car seats across the middle row (Audi Q7, XC90, Ford Galaxy, for example).

It, therefore, looks like we will have to change vehicles but in the short term until the any new car arrives we may have a few weeks or a few months when we're stuck with the current vehicle.

The Government website:
https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-...

Implies that when you can't fit three car seats across the middle row that the eldest could travel without a car seat in the back using the adult car seat.

What I don't understand is whether this "exemption" from the law applies if the two outside car seats are fitted but the children are not in them. For example, on the school nursery run we would drop the toddler off and then drive on to the school to drop the eldest off. Sometimes, the baby may also stay at home with my wife whilst I do the school run and hence after we've dropped the toddler off both seats would be fitted but empty.

The NCT website implies that this would be illegal but I don't know if this is true:
https://www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/getting-out-ab...

If the front seat is empty they can sit there in a car seat?

[gshughes]

solo2 said:

You don't need to change your car you just need to change the rear seats to a Multimac

https://www.multimac.com/home

What a great idea!

[Chester draws]

I'd say that unless the other child seats are being used by a child, or cannot be readily removed without the use of tools... That you should use the appropriate seat.

Edited by Chester draws on Friday 27th September 17:02

[vaud]

Just use the front seat.

[Sheepshanks]

MadProfessor said:

I'm trying to understand what the law with respect to car seats actually says/means.

We have three children. A new baby who will go into a rear-facing car seat. A two-year-old in an age-appropriate forward-facing car seat. And an 8-year-old who up to now has both a booster cushion (purchased when they were still legal to buy) and a high backed booster seat.

We cannot fit all three car seats across the back of our current car, a Range Rover L322.

A narrow booster cushion fitted in wife's Tiguan between two hefty car seats (one a swivelling Recaro Xero1) and allowed the normal seat belt to be used. It was a tight fit, especially for the cild between the bolsters of the other seats, but deemed (by the child's mother) OK for bringing a child back from school.

You can still buy and use booster cushions - they're not as completely illegal as was being suggested when the new regualations came into being.

[rxe]

solo2 said:

You don't need to change your car you just need to change the rear seats to a Multimac

https://www.multimac.com/home

Very neat and a lot cheaper than changing cars. I'd imagine the resale value would be good as well.

[Pica-Pica]

meatballs said:

If the front seat is empty they can sit there in a car seat?

I believe a rear facing baby seat can go in the front passenger seat, as long as that airbag is deactivated.

[vaud]

Pica-Pica said:

I believe a rear facing baby seat can go in the front passenger seat, as long as that airbag is deactivated.

Correct. As can a child seat.

[E36GUY]

BenjiS said:

How tall is the 8 year old? If over 135cm they don’t need to be in any seat anymore. My lad hit this height when he was 8.

Same here.

And

vaud said:

Correct. As can a child seat.

You don't need to de-activate the airbag for forward facing kids's seats. Only the rearward facing baby seats.

[vaud]

E36GUY said:

You don't need to de-activate the airbag for forward facing kids's seats. Only the rearward facing baby seats.

Agreed.