Just seen this and thought others may be interested....

http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/campaigns/childcarseats/childcarseats.htm#01

New regulations governing the use of child car seats will come into force on 18 September 2006.

One major change seems to be that children up to 12 years old (or 135cm high) MUST use a booster cushion type car seat.

I noted this when looking at baby seats myself (IIRC posted these regs aswell). The limit is 5ft for the booster seat, my cousin is 4ft 11ins and 32 years of age, does she still need one...llol

The new rules seem quite strange, & probably not easy to enforce in that you have to be either 5ft or 12 years old, that means you could have a child that is 4ft 9” but is 12 years old that can use a normal seat belt, that still can’t be safe. You can also carry a child in a taxi unrestrained.

I read it differently.....

The current rules mention 5ft as one of the limits for 12 and 13 year olds.

In the new rules, the requirement for a booster seat in the back applies to "Child from 3rd birthday up to 135cms in height (approx 4'5") (or 12th birthday whichever they reach first)" with a few exceptions noted (including taxis)

Lummox - I think your cousin may be safe (although might be worth carrying a copy of her birth certificate round if she only looks 11)

A quick :bump: on this one - the law changes in 4 days.

Got my booster seat today - well its not for me but you know what mean!

The local Halfords and Argos had sold out, but Toys R Us had a few left in.

on radio 2 yesterday they said the is you need one if your child is under 12 years old of a height of 125 cm or less. my child is 8 years old & 130 cm so she dont need one. the 12 years is just a cut off point for the height.

Yeah Halfords and Mothercare were both running very low on child seats. They'd also run out of the non-slip mats to go under them too :( Good old Mothercare online though - arrived this morning

Chris

on radio 2 yesterday they said the is you need one if your child is under 12 years old of a height of 125 cm or less. my child is 8 years old & 130 cm so she dont need one. the 12 years is just a cut off point for the height.

I have just checked on the direct gov website and attached a pdf.

the regulation apply to children under 12 and below 135cm in height , my son is 7yrs 3 months and 134 cm tall he will need a seat until he grows 1 cm .

on radio 2 yesterday they said the is you need one if your child is under 12 years old of a height of 125 cm or less. my child is 8 years old & 130 cm so she dont need one. the 12 years is just a cut off point for the height.

I agree with Kynastonp - you have been mis-informed by Radio 2. Its 135cm

the regulation apply to children under 12 and below 135cm in height , my son is 7yrs 3 months and 134 cm tall he will need a seat until he grows 1 cm .

Is this height with or without shoes on? Not that I can really see a cm making any difference at all if he fits in the seat with the seatbelt across him correctly....

Chris

My son still sits in his child seat if in the front and on a booster if he's in the back.

He's 7.5 - not sure on height, but I'll keep him in it/on it until I hink he's big enough anyway, regardless of the rules. Better safe than sorry.