NZ Police Feedback

This morning some of you may have seen the NZ Police in our community. 
This was a community operation and they visited each school in our community throughout the week. 

The following is the feedback we have received as a community. 

It was great to see so many families this week who are doing their best to keep their children safe in the car. Most families were aware that children are legally required to be in a booster seat until at least the age of 7 years. What many people didn’t seem to know is that children are still safest to stay in a booster until they reach approximately 148cm in height, regardless of age. An average-sized child is likely to reach this height at around 10-11 years of age. In children under 148cm, the position of the seatbelt across the soft part of the tummy, and/or across the neck, could actually cause serious injuries in the event of a crash.

From a safety point of view, children should use a booster seat to safely position the seatbelt until the seatbelt in the car fits them properly. There is a 5 point checklist you can use to determine whether a child is safe to come out of a booster seat:

1. Can the child sit naturally with their back against the vehicle seat?
2. Do the knees bend naturally at the front edge of the seat?
3. Does the lap part of the seatbelt sit low across the hips, touching the top of the thighs (rather than across the tummy)?
4. Does the sash (shoulder) part of the seatbelt sit across the middle of the shoulder (not across the neck)?
5. Can your child sit like this for the whole time they are in the car?

One more thing simple thing that can keep children safer in the car is for them to ride in the back seat of the car. We saw a lot of small children riding the front seat this week. Some families see this as a treat, however it puts these children at significantly greater risk of injury in a crash compared with riding in the back seat.

More information about keeping children safe in the car can be found at: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/what-waka-kotahi-is-doing/education-initiatives/child-restraints/buying-and-installing-child-restraints/frequently-asked-questions/#is-my-child-ready-to-ride-safely-without-a-booster

Families who would like help or more information are welcome to contact Selwyn Car Seat Champions: https://www.facebook.com/selwyncarseats or visit Baby On The Move at 515 Wairakei Rd, Burnside.