Law buckles down on car seat safety
The department of transport has issued a new regulation to the National Road Traffic Act, which as of 1 May compels parents to restrain their children in child car seats.
LOCAL authorities believe that the introduction of a new regulation to the National Road Traffic Act, which as of 1 May compels parents to strap infants and children younger than the age of three into a car seat when travelling in a motor vehicle, is long overdue.
Prior to the amendment, approved by the Minister of Transport, there was no direct stipulation which required motorists to restrain children passengers.
The regulation, however, does not apply for minibus, midibus or buses, where passengers aren’t legally obliged to buckle up.
Neil Powell, of Crisis Medical, said he was elated by the news. “We have attended to a number of accidents where a child was sitting on the mother’s lap, and often the consequences have been dire. We are therefore in full support of the new regulation,” he said.
According to Powell, children and infants’ bodies differ from those of an adult, and therefore require a car seat as a form of restraint. “An adult safety belt can ride up over the stomach or cut across the neck, causing the child serious abdominal or neck injuries. Children younger than three are also not as aware of their surroundings as older children or adults are, and can therefore not adequately prepare themselves for an accident as we would, which can lead to severe neck and head injuries,” he said.
Metro Police spokesman, Eugene Msomi, also welcomed the amendment, saying that it was long overdue. “It is not a pleasant experience to attend to the scene of an accident in which a child has been injured. We are happy with the amendment and will be providing our full support in order to ensure that the new law is enforced,” he said.
He confirmed that anyone found to disregard the new regulation could face a fine of R500 to R2 000.
