Some 10,000 parents have availed of the Road Safety Authority’s (RSA ) free child car seat checking service since the service began in 2013.
More than 14,000 child car seats have been checked during that time period. The ‘Check it Fits’ Service provides a nationwide practical, expert checking service to ensure children are safe and secure when travelling in cars.
Almost two out of five children killed in road collisions in Ireland are passengers. Garda reports into collisions in 2014 indicate that one in 10 children were not wearing a seatbelt or using a child restraint. Research from the RSA indicates that as many as four out of five child car seats are incorrectly fitted, which could lead to a serious or fatal injury in the event of a collision.
The RSA’s advice is to choose a child car seat that is suitable for your child’s weight and height as well as one compatible with your car, and to always get it fitted by an expert. Moyagh Murdock, CEO of the RSA, said: “This is a fantastic milestone for the ‘Check it Fits’ service. We are delighted that parents are taking the time to avail of this service and ensure their children are travelling safely in the car. We would always advise parents to get their child’s car seat fitted by an expert and give yourself the peace of mind that your children are travelling safely.
“We would also advise parents to check the label on their car seat to make sure it’s appropriate for your child’s weight and height, to make sure your seat is firmly installed in the car, and to always ensure that your child’s harness is fitted snugly for every trip.”
The Check it Fits service generally takes between 10 and 15 minutes and is free of charge. The RSA is encouraging people to visit the Check it Fits service when it comes to their area. The RSA has also developed a series of videos on child safety in cars which are available on YouTube.
To find out when the service will be visiting your area check out www.rsa.ie/checkitfits, Twitter @RSAIreland, or Facebook at www.facebook.com/RSAIRELAND
