In car safety

Babies and children must be kept safe and secure when travelling in a vehicle.

You must use restraints which are suitable for both your child and your vehicle. In car safety law can be complex, so the best way to stay on the right side of it is to use the most appropriate restraint for everyone travelling in the car.

Children must normally use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135cm tall, whichever comes first.

All child car seats must meet approved safety standards before they can be sold and used in the UK.

Two types of car seat standard are currently in use:

• The newer R129 (i‑Size) standard
• The older R44.04 standard

i‑Size (R129) is now the current standard for new car seats and is based on a child’s height rather than weight.

i‑Size car seats

i-Size seats are designed to provide improved safety and ease of use. Key features include:

• enhanced protection in side and front impacts
• improved support for the head and neck
• rear‑facing travel required until at least 15 months old
• ISOFIX fitting, which reduces the risk of incorrect installation
• designed to fit most ISOFIX‑equipped vehicles
• height‑based classification rather than weight‑based

All approved car seats will carry a label showing compliance (for example R129 or ECE R44).

Choosing and using a car seat

When selecting and using a car seat, you should ensure that it is:

• suitable for your child’s height and weight and compatible with your vehicle
• fitted correctly in your vehicle in line with manufacturer instructions
• used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions

The driver is responsible for ensuring children under 14 use the correct restraint.

If you are using a rear‑facing child seat in the front passenger seat, the front airbag must be switched off. It is illegal and dangerous to use a rear‑facing seat in the front if the airbag is on.

Child car seats should be fitted in the rear seats wherever possible, as this is generally the safest place for children to travel.

Find out more

For further advice on choosing, fitting and correctly using a child car seat at each stage of your child’s development, visit the Good Egg Safety website or refer to their Child car seat safety.