RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

March 1, 2004
RoSPA CHILD CAR SEAT WEBSITE WINS TOP SAFETY AWARD

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ website to help parents select and fit child car seats correctly - www.childcarseats.org.uk - has won a top road safety award.

Dr Brian Gibbons, Welsh Assembly Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Transport, presented RoSPA with the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award at the Society’s national road safety congress in Cardiff today (Monday, March 1).

The website is visited by about 600 people every day. It has become a trusted source of safety information for anyone needing advice about child car restraints, not just in the UK, but around the world.

Surveys show that about two-thirds of child car seats are fitted incorrectly and 10 per cent are unsuitable for the car in which they are being used or for the child concerned. Poor fitting can mean that the seat will not protect a child in a crash. Every year about 40 children under 12 are killed travelling in cars, about 500 are seriously injured and 9,000 slightly injured.

Adrian Walsh, the awards scheme director, said: “Correctly fitted child car seats are vital and all parents need to understand this. Although manufacturers offer guidance, this site gives especially clear information and advice, which is easily accessible to a huge audience. It will therefore be of great benefit in reducing needless and heartbreaking child accidents.”

Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety, said: “We are delighted to receive the award for the website, especially as the EC is introducing a new Directive, which will require children travelling in cars to use an appropriate child restraint. This will remove the loophole in the UK law that says restraints must be used ‘if available’.

“The use of child restraints will increase substantially over the next few years and this is likely to be accompanied by an increase in badly fitted restraints unless parents are given more help.”