Motor insurer Norwich Union has welcomed a tightening of the rules governing vehicle child and baby seats, which is set to come into force this September.
Motor insurer Norwich Union has welcomed a tightening of the rules governing vehicle child and baby seats, which is set to come into force this September.
Under new government regulations it will be compulsory for the under threes to use the child seat or booster appropriate for their age in any vehicle. Children aged over three and up to the age of 12 will also have to use an appropriate child restraint as adult seatbelts are designed for people over 150cm in height and with an adult bone structure1. It will also be illegal to use a rear facing baby seat in a seat protected by an airbag.
From May 2008 the European Union’s UN ECE 44.03 or later standard child restraints must be used (meaning the restraints have undergone rigorous testing before they can be deemed suitable for sale).
The government estimates the planned rule changes could prevent up to 2000 child deaths or injuries every year1.
Norwich Union, which last year teamed up with retailer Halfords to introduce replacement child seat cover as part of its Private Car and Just Car insurance, this week welcomed the planned rule changes.
Andy Boyd, product development manager at Norwich Union commented: “These measures will further protect children travelling in all vehicles and represents an appropriate tightening of the existing rules. As a leading provider of motor insurance we think the government is taking the right approach on this issue.
“Most measures taken in this area – such as the introduction of compulsory seatbelt wearing - make for safer roads and safer driving. Deaths on British roads plummeted after wearing a seatbelt was made compulsory – and it’s to our credit that we have one of the best road safety records in the world.
“However, too many children are still killed or injured on our roads every year and by using a correctly fitted child seat that is suitable for their weight and size many of these deaths and injuries could be prevented.
“These new rules mean a move away from the current situation of child seats having to be used 'if they are available'. Given that most cars now have rear seatbelts, we think it is appropriate to insist that child seats and boosters are used – apart from in a very few exceptions. It also makes sense to insist that children under 135cm in height don’t move on to adult seatbelts too soon. And we think it’s important to remind drivers that they are responsible for ensuring the rules are adhered to.”
Since last October, Norwich Union Private Car and Just Car policyholders have been offered replacement car seat cover of up to Ł100 in the event of a crash, or for incidents of fire or theft.
Andy Boyd added: “Government and road safety agencies recommend child seats should not be used again following an accident. Statistics also reveal that 80%2 of child seats are incorrectly fitted into vehicles. Our partnership with Halfords means Private Car and Just Car policyholders can receive free advice on selecting the right car seat and a free fitting service to ensure their loved ones remain safe.”
Policyholders will never be far away from a branch of Halfords as 90% of the population are within 20 minutes of a store3. In addition, each store has at least two members of staff who have been fully trained on fitting child seats in vehicles.
1 Department of Transport Think Road Safety website (www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/) - government Road Safety Minister, Stephen Ladyman.
2 Survey for Mother and Baby Magazine carried out in 2004
3 Source: Halfords
-ends-
For further information, please contact:
Clare Schofield at Staniforth on 0161 919 8021/ 07971 609839
Sally Leeman at Norwich Union on 01603 684225/ 07800 699670
Notes to editors:
Norwich Union is the UK’s largest general insurer with a market share of around 14%, with a focus on insurance for individuals and small businesses.
Norwich Union is the UK’s largest insurer. It is a leading provider of life, pensions and investment products and one of the largest financial adviser (FA) providers. FAs provide over 70% of the company's long-term savings business in the UK.
Norwich Union’s news releases and a selection of images are available from Aviva's internet press centre at www.aviva.com/media.