has yet again been hit in the pocket by haveing to put children up to a certain hight in booster seats yes i agree with seat belts but why cant this nanny state leave us parents alone and let us make up our minds when and when not to use the booster seat
2006-09-17 22:34:11 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Commuting
Too many people aren't sensible enough or don't realise when a child would be better off in a booster seat.
Making it law highlights the danger and allows children's safety to be put first.
2006-09-17 22:43:36 · answer #1 · answered by SL 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Although making it law also draws a lot of impracticalities . My nephews have been inbooster ‘cushions’ since they’re young enough to have one, however the law states anyone under six must have a ‘back’ and actually be in a seat. Having a seat as opposed to just a base will make very little difference to the safety of the child.
You aren’t allowed more than two booster seats in the back, which means even if you can squeeze three in, one has to go in the front, forcing a partner of the driver, unless he/she is a rival to those underweight models they’re to stay home which means no longer having a ‘family trip/holiday’.
You’re allowed to completely go without booster seats for all children if it’s an ‘emergency’ or a ‘short journey’ so effectively the run-to-school/clubs wouldn’t necessarily need a booster seat which makes the law all in all complete bull.
I agree with the theory of the law 100% yet the restrictions imposed aren’t for the good of the children, family life or for the environment considering in order to go on a family holiday ‘legally’ for a three children family you’re now forced to have a bigger, higher emissions car and not necessarily need it.
2006-09-17 22:53:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How far would you like the government to back away ?
I feel perfectly capable of judging what a safe speed is, whould you be happy for the government to remove the speed limits and trust me to drive past your house at a safe speed ?
Guns are not safe, do you want the government to leave it up to me to decide if I can fire one or not ?
Most parents cannot think straight, you've just got to look around the high street to figure this one out. So the government do have a responsibility to ensure people are safe and tell them what to do sometimes.
If you have been involved in seat belt and car seat design for years then yes, maybe you've got a point. But if you object to this new safety law because you're being "hit in the pocket" then thats illogical. It seems like you are saying the current situation is safe because a booster seat would cost you money. So , your kids life if worth less than £50. See, I told you most parents can't think straight.
2006-09-17 22:56:44 · answer #3 · answered by Michael H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The children's safety comes first. If people could be trusted to do the safest thing rather than the cheapest/easiest then the state wouldn't have to bother nannying on this one. When seat belts weren't compulsory for adults loads of people didn't bother to wear them and many people died in accidents when they wouldn't have had they been wearing a belt. I hate the idea of a 'nanny state' too - especially when the Government starts telling people what to say and feel - but in the case of child safety in a practical manner such as booster seats then perhaps people do need to be made to make the right choices if they don't do it on their own. Its a tough call, but if fewer children die in crashes, then that is only good.
2006-09-17 23:07:08 · answer #4 · answered by peggy*moo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So why is a 1.36m 8-year old safer than a 11 1/2-year old 1.34m kid? I would have thought that the 11 and 1/2-year old is more mature than an 8-year old. And how about a 1.33m 12 year old? Why is he/she any safer than an 8-year old, who's just a little bit taller than him/her? This new law has been brought out to specifically target a market who can easily be blackmailed and made to feel guilty, as most people care deeply about their children. This is a money spinner not only in booster seats but in fines too. Those people that made this law must own the biggest booster-seat making company. I am a health & safety specialist and I know that this is not going to reduce incidents amongst kids. This is just making people like me look like a right idiot. This is health&safety gone mad and gives us a bad name. This is not what health and safety is about!
2006-09-17 22:58:47 · answer #5 · answered by Luvfactory 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because as I see most mornings when I walk my sisters kids to school stupid people stuffing 6 or7 little kids into the back of an Astra or a similar sized car so it is obvious that the kids have no safety belts on in the back so yet again it proves people can not act in a responsible manner when left to their own discretion the life of a small child over the price of a booster seat something amiss with priorities there I feel !!!!!!!!!
2006-09-17 22:59:42 · answer #6 · answered by PARADOX 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Before the seat belt laws, my mate in the emergency services (fire brigade) used to call cars `spam cans` because that is what they were like after an accident.
It is a lot better now with all the new safety regulations.
You only have to look around you as you drive at all those people that do not understand basic car safety. I saw a nice young middle class couple with their child on the lap of it`s mother, in the front, sharing a seat belt. The consequences, for the poor infant, of even a sharpish stop do not bear thinking about.
That is why we need regulations and that is why they need to be policed.
Safety regulations work. They are the result of much competent research and are for your and your families benefit.
2006-09-17 22:56:40 · answer #7 · answered by Robert Abuse 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because given the choice - parents on the whole don't put in seats when they should - as evidenced by the casulties in accidents and the injuries that are incurred.
Is IT a bit nanny state ish - but I doubt that they're doing this on a whim.
2006-09-17 22:36:58 · answer #8 · answered by Felidae 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have to say the new law is a bit daft! I had to go out and buy 3 new booster seats, which i dont mind, but the wording of the law is a bit silly. Aparantly they dont have to use it once they reach 4'5'' or 12yrs whichever comes first. My 7yr old is 4'5'' and by no way the tallest in her class! I think they should have thought the law through a bit more b4 they decided we all needed to fork out loads of money
2006-09-17 22:39:47 · answer #9 · answered by emn2111 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If these booster seats are so safe and sensible then why dont they come FREE with new cars.. i got free seat belts, abs, and airbags with my new car.
2006-09-18 01:09:32 · answer #10 · answered by zed 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋