Less than a year ago, a Daily Mail article insisted that parents' ignorance of child car seat law was "putting lives at risk". It highlighted the findings of a Which? survey that more than a third of parents under estimate the age or height at which a child can travel without a car seat. The law states that a car seat must be used until a child reaches either 12 years of age or 1.35m in height. However, only around four in ten (38%) parents of children aged 15 or under knew this this when questioned, said The Mail.

The same article also pointed to an AA/Populus survey of 16,500 respondents, that showed 83% of parents are 'simply' not aware of legislation requiring children to use the appropriate restraint or child seat. The survey was published last summer to coincide with a national campaign and roadshow, which offered expert advice and guidance on choosing and fitting the right car seat. It was expected that the economic downturn would see 50% more families drive to UK holiday destinations, with only a third of car seats fitted securely.

Speaking to the press during Chid Safety Week, Richard Headland, Editor of Which? Car, blamed a lack of information for putting children's lives in danger. "Kids are at risk if they're not properly secured in a seat appropriate to their weight and height," he said."Unfortunately there's still huge confusion among parents about who should be using a child car seat, and not enough advice on how to fit seats properly."

According to Think! the Government Campaign for Road Safety, on average 37 children up to the age of 16 were killed or seriously injured every week on our roads in 2007. The Think! campaign is helping to contribute to the Government's objective of halving the number of road deaths and serious injuries for children by the end of 2010.

Thankfully there are very few exceptions to the rules on car seat use. In limited circumstances only, a child can travel without the correct child seat, says Think!

In a licensed taxi or licensed private hire vehicle, if the correct child restraint is not available then, in the rear seat only, children under three may travel unrestrained. Children aged three years and over must use an adult seat belt.

In cases of unexpected necessity over a short distance, the advice is the same as above for children over three. However, this exemption does not apply to children under three years of age and does not cover regular school runs or other journeys that are planned in advance.

Where two occupied child restraints in the rear seat prevent the fitting of a third, a child aged three years and over can use an adult seat belt (lap OR lap and diagonal) in the rear. If the front seat is free, then they must be seated there using the correct child restraint.

In older vehicles with no rear seat belts, children aged three years and over may travel unrestrained.

However, these exemptions are far from ideal and Ni would recommend that you emphasise that the use of a car or booster seat is the only way to ensure safe travel and that journeys without should be avoided.

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