UK law. Does my daughter need a car seat when we are getting lifts from someone?

Question

My family doesnt have a car.. yet. But occasionally i go out with friend/family with my daughter (16 months) and we get lifted here and there. I am thinking of getting a car seat anyway for her safety, because you never know what might happen.

But I just want to know if we are legally required to have one. If so, who is responsible, the driver or the parent/guardian?

In addition I will obviously need to take the seat in and out of each car journey so i will need to buy a light one.

Thanks, i am getting one anyway, but i was curious about the legal requirements. Thanks

Answer 1

Yes you do. The law states that you dont have to use one in an emergency or in a taxi (or similar) If you are stopped and your not in an emergency then the driver is fined.
The police however have said that they are finding it hard to enforce this law, and some people have gone as far as saying they arent enforcing the law.
I dont think you will get caught but I would think of getting one anyway for safety.
I got a really lightweight one from littlewoods catalogue a while back. It was about £35. Go into halfords and find one you like then search for a similar one online, then it wont cost too much

Answer 2

I'm in the US, but I would assume that the law there requires a car seat for children until they are old enough to be belted in. I know of a case here in the states where the mother was riding with her child in a friends car and there was no car seat...there was an accident and the child was injured...the mother and the driver were not charged for not having a car seat, however they were charged with criminal neglegence and endangering the health of a child. I'd say just pick up a nice car seat and look forward to lugging it around for two years or so...its much better to carry around a car seat than it is to carry around the memory of a lost child.

Answer 3

Yes, legally she needs to be in a car seat!
Even those who do car pooling for the school run are expected to have special seats for all children, regardless of how many of the kids are theirs!!!
Halfords, are apparently good at advice on which seat to choose.

Good luck, stay safe! :)

Answer 4

The driver is responsible, and I would get a car seat.

Answer 5

YES your daughter does need a secure seat in EVERY car she travels in - whether it's a friend or relatives car.

My Grandmother permanently had child car seats fitted in her car while me, my brother, my 2 cousins and 4 step cousins were little.

The DRIVER is legally responsible for EVERY person and animal in their vehicle.

Answer 6

Yes you must have a child seat by law for the daughter. hopefully like you say you want a seat for her protection anyway regardless of wether its law or not.
you can get light seats that have a carry handle on them you can also (i think) get ones that clip on to a buggy frame.
best bet is to talk to someone in mother care or halfords and see what they advise for the most universal seat.

this web page may help with the clarification of the law on seats

http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/law/index.htm

Answer 7

Your child must have a car seat. No exceptions unless it's a cab - but a cab without seatbelts is probably illegal in other respects.
It is the driver's legal responsibility to ensure that the child is correctly restrained
How could you even contemplate putting your most precious treasure ina a two ton steel box and throwing it around at 70mph? You wouldn't get in a car without a seatbelt so why should she?

Answer 8

regrettably, i don't think of you will possibly nicely be superb approximately this. If I have been you, i could say, "pay attention, you're putting my granddaughter's existence at risk each and every time youpersistent like that. i don't care if she screams bloody homicide, you're performing neglectful and it extremely is illegitimate. you will possibly nicely be as mad as you prefer to at me, and that i'm not attempting to break or anger you, yet i won't take a seat decrease back and permit so you might danger her existence." If she keeps it up, i could do as others reported and pass to the police station and get their enter. i comprehend you're in all risk worried she won't enable so you might confirm your granddaughter, and that would purely be easily poor, yet you will under no circumstances forgive your self if God forbid something happens. Even a fender bender in a carpark below 20 mph could snap her neck. that is severe and your DIL is an fool. My brother is bipolar and that i comprehend it extremely is often strolling on eggshells, yet each and every so often it purely has to hit the fan. i'm sorry on your situation i comprehend this could be particularly confusing!

Answer 9

1. BEFORE YOUR FIRST BIRTHDAY LESS THAN 20 POUNDS REAR-FACING INFANT-ONLY CAR SEAT OR CONVERTIBLE SEAT USED IN REAR-FACING POSITION, SECURED IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR.

2. 20–35 POUNDS CONVERTIBLE SEAT USED IN REAR-FACING POSITION, SECURED IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. LOOK FOR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT THAT IS RECOMMENDED FOR HEAVIER INFANTS.

3. WHEN YOU ARE 1, 2, 3, AND 4 20–40 POUNDS FACE FORWARD IN A CONVERTIBLE SEAT OR A FORWARD-FACING-ONLY SEAT OR HIGH-BACK BOOSTER/HARNESS IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR.

4. WHEN YOU ARE 4, 5, 6, 7, OR 8 LESS THAN 4’9” (57 INCHES) TALL BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTER SEAT (NO BACK) OR HIGH-BACK BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTER SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR.

5. WHEN YOU ARE 8, 9, 10, 11, OR 12 MORE THAN 4’9” (57 INCHES) TALL MAY USE AN ADULT SEATBELT, BUT MUST KEEP YOUR BACK AGAINST THE SEAT BACK, YOUR KNEES BENT OVER THE EDGE OF THE SEAT, AND YOUR FEET FLAT ON THE FLOOR IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR.

6. WHEN YOU ARE MORE THAN 12 YEARS OLD MORE THAN 4’9” (57 INCHES) TALL MAY SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CAR WITH AN ADULT SEATBELT.

Answer 10

Yes.

You as the parent should be responsible for your childs welfare although the driver will be fined among other things.

Buy the good child safety car seat.

Mother Care will be able to advise.