Why child car seat safety matters
Every year in the UK, hundreds of children are killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions. Many of these tragedies are preventable with the correct use of child car seats.
Why car seats are essential
A properly fitted car seat reduces the risk of death by up to 71% and serious injury by up to 67% in a crash.
Rear-facing seats offer superior protection for a child’s head, neck, and spine — especially in frontal collisions, which are the most common type.
Even at 30 mph, an unrestrained child can be thrown forward with a force 30 to 60 times their body weight, causing catastrophic injuries.
It’s not just about the law — it’s about lives
While UK law requires children to use a car seat until they are 12 years old or 135cm tall, best practice often goes beyond the legal minimum. Choosing the right seat for your child’s size and ensuring it’s correctly installed can make the difference between life and death in a crash.