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Hampshire County Council, in partnership with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, is offering a free child car seat checking service on Wednesday 30 July at Gosport Fire Station between 10am - 4pm. Unknowingly many parents may be putting their child's life at risk when travelling in a vehicle if the car seat isn't properly fitted. In fact, our last car seat check in Basingstoke, revealed 7 out of 10 needed adjusting, and 39% were not compatible with the car. The road safety team and Gosport firefighters will be promoting road safety awareness and in car safety - including the safe use and fitting of child seats and seatbelts. Experts in car child seat safety will be on hand to give advice and check that your child car seat is correctly fitted. County Councillor Mel Kendal, Executive Member for Environment, said: "The safest way for children to travel in cars is in a car seat that is suitable for their weight and height rather than by age, vitally it needs to be fitted correctly, otherwise you lose the safety benefits and may be putting them in danger." "The alarming statistics from Basingstoke underline the need for events such as this to help avoid the potentially tragic consequences of incorrectly fitting or choice of car seat. "I'd encourage all those who travel with children in the car to come along to Gosport Fire Station on Wednesday 30 July to have your car seats checked by experts, and receive potentially life-saving advice that will be tailored to your car and child." Gosport Fire Station Manager Brian Rudman, said: "All road accidents involving serious injuries are tragic, but those involving young children are amongst the most traumatic accidents we deal with. For this reason we urge the public to ensure that any children carried in their vehicles are correctly and safely restrained, no matter how short the journey. "The fitting of child car seats is as important as it has ever been. Child seats have to be correctly fitted to be effective and all vehicle occupants, especially children, must wear appropriate restraints at all times, to prevent or minimise injury." The County Council and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service are committed to reducing deaths and serious injuries on the county's roads. As an active members of the Hampshire Road Safety Partnership, both work closely with Hampshire Constabulary, local authorities and other organisations to improve road safety. For more information visit Hampshire County Council |
