MOTHERS IN THE CAR: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHILD SEATS!

Here is a vademecum on everything related to child seats and to travel safely with children!

THE ROAD CODE:
The use of child restraint systems in cars is regulated by article 172 of the Highway Code which establishes that passengers under the age of 12 and under 1.5 meters in height are attached to an approved restraint system. and suitable for their weight and height.

As for the height, however, the legislation, better known as i-Size, has also introduced the obligation of the backrest for all car seats for children under one meter and twenty-five in height and the installation of the same in opposite direction to that of travel for children up to 15 months.

Common sense dictates that child seats are installed in the rear area of the vehicle, in particular, or in the central or side seat behind the passenger. Those in group 0 must only be placed on the rear seat. For all other groups, if you decide to place them next to the driver, it is imperative to deactivate the airbag.

The Isofix system is an international fastening system that does not use car seat belts but provides for the installation of the seat directly to the seat using special hooks on the restraint system. It is the most stable and safe way of hooking, especially for the ease of assembly that eliminates any errors. Only cars produced since 2006 have the system but there is no obligation to replace the car if it does not have these attachments.

PENALTIES FOR CONTRACTORS:
Failure to use child seats is punished with an administrative sanction ranging from 83.00 euros to 333.00 euros and with a 5-point deduction from the driver's license. If, on the other hand, a parent or an adult exercising parental authority over the child is present on the vehicle, the penalty is applied to him and no points are deducted from the driver.

In the case of cars used for the public transport service (for example in a taxi or rental with driver) children with a height of less than 1.50 meters can circulate, not restrained by special restraint systems, only on the back seat and always accompanied by a passenger. aged no less than 16 years.

A second exception concerns vehicles which from the outset do not have seat belts (for example vintage cars). It is forbidden to transport children under the age of 3 on these cars. The others (from 3 years upwards) can instead be carried in the back seat, without particular requirements, and in the front seat only if they are over one meter and fifty in height.

ANTI-ABANDONMENT DEVICES
Finally, from last March 6, the use of anti-abandonment devices on all child seats came into force for children under the age of 4.