Recent legislation in Europe means all children should be restrained when traveling in a vehicle. The legislation was brought in because every year too many children were injured or killed in road traffic accidents due to not being properly restrained. Under the new EU law all children under the age of 11/12 must be in an appropriate child car seat. Recent research in Ireland has shown that 2 out of every fitted child seats are not properly installed which can result in serious injury even in minor road traffic accidents. From 1996 to 2000, 77% of child fatalities were found not to have been using a child restraint or seatbelt.
All child safety seats must conform to the United Nations standard, ECE Regulation 44-03, must be suitable for the weight and height of the child, is suitable for the type of car and is correctly fitted. A rearward facing baby seat should never be fitted in a front seat where there is an airbag fitted. Seat belts are designed to work on those over 5 feet tall of 1.5meters tall. It is important that the correct child seats are used for every journey, no matter how short.
Child restraints are divided into categories depending on the weight of the child. These categories are loosely aligned with age groups, but it is the weight of the child that is most important:
Stage 1 – Groups 0 and 0+
Stage 2 – Groups 1
Stage 3 - Groups 2
Stage 4 – Groups 3
Each stage has a particular weight and direction:
Group 0 – Rearward-facing child seat for children up to 10kgs
Group 0+ – Rearward-facing child seat for children up to 13kgs
Group 1 – Forward facing child seat for children between 9 and 18kgs
Group 2 – Booster seat for children between 15 and 25kgs
Group 3 – Booster cushion for children between 22 and 36kgs
With many tourists arriving in Ireland each year, it is important that they realise what they will need for their child to travel safely. Car rental companies in Ireland offer the complete range of baby seats. Make sure to book the seat along with your car rental to avoid issues upon arrival due to lack of availability.
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3 comments
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March 3, 2009 at 4:05 am
patty
What about grabbing a taxi? Is there an exception for this or do they expect you to drag around a car seat with your every where you go? Just curious because buses don’t have seat belts and taxi’s are registered public transportation.
March 3, 2009 at 10:46 am
notnem
Looks like buses and taxis are exempt. Good question all the same
May 5, 2009 at 10:38 am
TopBaby Car Seats
Great article! I’m loving your website;