ONE in three parents knows nothing about new laws on children’s car seats that come into force on Monday, according to a survey by Vauxhall cars.
The changes mainly affect older children, who will have to sit on a booster seat or cushion if they are younger than 12 or shorter than 4ft 5in (135cm).
People travelling with children who are not strapped into the correct seat could face a £30 on-the-spot fine.
In 2004, the latest year for which figures are available, 7,697 children were killed or injured in road accidents.
Aileen Brady, a spokeswoman for safefamilydriving.com, has called for a high- profile information campaign to warn drivers and parents of their obligations.
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Stephen Ladyman, the Transport Minister, said: “Using the right seat for the size of the child will give parents peace of mind and help to ensure that children are as safe as possible in the vehicle at all times.”
But many parents who are aware of the new rules plan to ignore them, the research indicated. They admit flouting the existing laws and say that they have no intention of buying a new seat or booster cushion for their child.