XN000022-1983-09-23 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1983

CHILDREN AND THE NEW SEAT BELT LAW

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FROM OCTOBER 1, DRIVERS AND FRONT-SEAT PASSENGERS IN PRIVATE CARS FIRST REGISTERED AFTER AUGUST 1, 1976, WILL, BY LAW BE REQUIRED TO WEAR SEAT BELTS.

FOR CHILDREN, HOWEVER, THE SAFEST PLACE IS IN A BACK SEAT WEARING A PROPER RESTRAINT.

THE LAW DOES ALLOW CHILDREN TO SIT IN FRONT SEATS, PROVIDING THEY ARE WEARING RESTRAINTS APPROPRIATE TO THE IR AGE WHICH EFFECTIVELY RESTRAIN THEM.

+THERE IS NO DOUBT, HOWEVER, SAID A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN, THAT THE SAFEST PLACE FOR A CHILD IS IN A REAR SEAT WITH A PROPER RESTRAINT.

+ IN CRASHES, SMALL CHILDREN ARE LIABLE TO BECOME FLYING MISSILES. A RESTRAINT WILL STOP THEM FROM BEING THROWN AROUND THE CAR WHICH COULD RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY.+

CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN 12 AND 15 YEARS, WEIGHING OVER 36 KG (80 LB), CAN USE AN ORDINARY ADULT SEAT BELT, IF IT ADJUSTS AUTOMATICALLY OR IS MANUALLY ADJUSTED TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE RESTRAINT. BOOSTER CUSHIONS CAN HELP IN ACHIEVING THIS.

FEW, IF ANY, OF THE APPROVED RESTRAINTS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN CAN BE FITTED IN FRONT SEATS THOUGH THIS MAY BE POSSIBLE IN SOME CARS THAT HAVE THE REQUIRED ANCHORAGE POINTS IN THE FRONT. THEREFORE, UNTIL RESTRAINING DEVICES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN FOR USE IN THE FRONT SEAT ARE DEVELOPED, THE LAW EFFECTIVELY REQUIRES YOUNGER CHILDREN TO SIT IN THE REAR SEATS.

BABIES WEIGHING UNDER 9 KG (20 LB) WHO CANNOT SIT UP BY THEMSELVES SHOULD BE CARRIED IN THE BACK OF THE CAR LYING DOWN IN A CARRYCOT ACROSS THE CAR WITH THEIR HEADS TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR, THE CARRYCOT SHOULD BE HELD ON THE BACK SEAT BY SPECIAL CARRYCOT RESTRAINING STRAPS.

CHILDREN AGED FROM ABOUT NINE MONTHS TO FOUR YEARS, WEIGHING 9 - 18 KGS (20 TO 40 LBS) ARE BEST PROTECTED WITH THE USE OF A PROPER CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT WHICH IS USUALLY FIXED TO THE CAR STRUCTURE BY TWO STRAPS AT THE TOP AND TWO AT THE BOTTOM. THE CHILD IS HELD IN THE SEAT BY A HARNESS.

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36 KGS

CHILDREN AGED FROM THREE TO 12 YEARS, WEIGHING 15 (35 80 LBS) SHOULD WEAR EITHER A CHILD HARNESS MADE OF A LAP STRAP AND TWO SHOULDER STRAPS, OR A SPECIAL LAP AND DIAGONAL BELT, WHICH ALSO HAS AN EXTRA STRAP RUNNING BEHIND THE CHILD THAT ACTS AS A GUIDE TO CHANGE THE LIE OF THE DIAGONAL BELT.

+THERE IS NO POINT IN GAMBLING WITH A CHILD'S LIFE+, SAID

THE SPOKESMAN.

+EVEN THOUGH THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT REAR SEAT BELTS BE FITTED, COMMON SENSE SHOULD CONVINCE PARENTS THAT THEY ARE ESSENTIAL, HE SAID.

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