How to transport children in a chair? How to install a car seat?

Regulations require children to be transported in child safety seats. Even if it weren't for the law, reasonable parents would still carry their children in car seats. Research shows that properly fitted car seats significantly reduce the chances of children being injured in crashes. Car seats reduce the chance of fatal injuries by 71-75% and serious injuries by 67%.

“We dedicate our time and energy to keeping our children safe. However, we often underestimate the dangers that can arise when driving a car. We transport children without fastened seat belts, in car seats that are not adapted to their height and weight. We assume that the very design of the car guarantees safety. Nothing could be more wrong, recalls Radosław Jaskulski, an instructor at the Auto Škoda School.

ISOFIX

It is safest to install the seat in the center of the rear seat, provided the seat is equipped with an ISOFIX anchorage or a three-point seat belt. This seat provides side impact protection - the child is far from the crush zone. Otherwise, it is suggested to place the rear seat behind the passenger. This allows you to get in and out safely and also allows you to make eye contact with your baby.

Front seat

Younger children may only be transported in the rear-facing front seat with the passenger airbag deactivated. Children over 150 cm tall do not need to travel in a child seat.

Seat installation

For safety, it is very important to properly install the seat. Children weighing up to 18 kg must be fastened with a three-point or five-point seat belt. The smallest passengers weighing up to 9 kg must be carried in rear-facing child seats. This way their still weak spine and head will be better protected.

Booster pillows

If possible, do not use extra pillows. They do not protect against side impacts, and in frontal collisions they slip out from under the children.

Let's teach this to kids!

Teaching the youngest to use seat belts raises awareness for adult car users later on. It should be remembered that the vast majority of all road accident victims among children aged 0 to 6 years are vehicle passengers - as much as 70,6%.

In 1999, regulations for the carriage of children under 12 years of age and no more than 150 cm in height came into force, taking into account their age and weight, seats or seats that increase their position and allow adults to properly fasten seat belts. In 2015, as a result of bringing Polish legislation in line with EU standards, the age limit was abolished. The decisive factor in the need to transport a child in a seat is height - the limit remains at 150 cm. The additional provision allows transporting children in the back seat without a child seat if they are at least 135 cm tall and fastened with seat belts. If the child rides in front, a seat is required. There is also a ban on the transportation of children under 3 years old in vehicles not equipped with seat belts.

Carriage of children without a car seat entails a fine of PLN 150 and 6 demerit points.