Safety check reveals car seat faults

9:35am Sunday 24th February 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

A recent check revealed less than 15% of child car seats in Pembrokeshire were fitted correctly.

Pembrokeshire County Council road safety unit examined more than 150 seats in a three day initiative in Haverfordwest, Pembroke Dock and Fishguard.

Child car seat specialists John and Fran Vickery found only 13% were fitted correctly.

Councillor Jamie Adams, cabinet member for highways and transportation, urged parents to ensure their children's car safety seats were fitted properly.

"It's important that children are safely strapped into their parent's vehicles on all journeys," he said.

"Seats must not only be correctly fitted but also appropriate for the child's weight and height."

The recent initiative, which was sponsored by the Welsh Assembly, was part of a national campaign.

Nearly 200 babies and toddlers are killed or seriously injured in car accidents in the UK every year, mostly on local journeys at low speeds.

Since September 2006, the law requires all children to have an appropriate child restraint from birth until 12 years old, or when they reach 4ft 5in in height.

Local parent Jenny Shales praised the initiative and the advice she was given.

"I didn't expect the checks to be so thorough and helpful," she said.