Real Rescue's presenter, Nick Knowles, supports Hampshire's child car seat checks
Hampshire County Council’s Road Safety Team is joining forces with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service throughout the summer, offering a series of free child car seat checking events, a move that's supported by the BBC’s Real Rescues crew.
And not a moment too soon – the last child car seat checking event in Basingstoke revealed that a staggering 40% of the seats checked were fitted incorrectly, and 39% were not compatible with the car.
A properly fitted child car seat is essential for the safety of young children travelling in vehicles. At just 5mph a child can be thrown forwards and killed. Last year in Hampshire there were 179 reported child vehicle occupant casualties.
Staffed by specialists in child car safety seats, the events will focus on checking that children's car seats are compatible with the vehicle they are in and appropriate for the age and size of the child they are for.
Ernest Sage, Hampshire’s Road Safety Service Manager, says: The shocking statistics from the Basingstoke session underline the need for events such as these to help avoid the potentially tragic consequences of incorrect fitting or choice of car seat.
"Parents need to check that their child's car seat is fitted correctly every time it is installed. If the child seat is kept in the car permanently the seat should be regularly checked to make sure it is still safe and secure, the majority of problems can be quickly corrected with minor adjustments.”
He says: "Our biggest concern will be for car seats that require major adjustment or repair or that are deemed to be incompatible with the vehicle. Some of these seats will provide little or no protection for the child in the case of a major accident, and that’s why we are highlighting the problems to parents."
TV presenter Nick Knowles, says: "Filming Real Rescues puts me at the heart of seeing the everyday duties of Britain's dedicated fire, police and ambulance crews. I hope by raising awareness to drivers that child car seats need to be properly fitted and compatible with the car, will reduce the chances of a child being seriously hurt or killed in an accident. Making a few checks before driving off takes very little time, and could save a life.”
The child car seat checking events will be at Lyndhurst Fire Station 14 June, Gosport Fire Station 30 July, Basingstoke Fire Station 20 September, Eastleigh Fire Station 4 October and Alton Fire Station 11 October.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Group Manager for New Forest North, Kevin Oxlade, added: At Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service we are all too frequently exposed to the aftermath of road traffic collisions and the impact these incidents have upon people’s lives. Reducing collisions on the county's roads means educating more people about the devastating consequences of neglecting driver and passenger safety - something which these events will enable us to do.
"We welcome the opportunity to work with Hampshire County Council’s road safety team to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on Hampshire’s roads. The advice that this event gives out will hopefully help influence people’s attitudes and behaviour to in car safety and make them consider the consequences of their actions.”
The County Council and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service are committed to reducing deaths and serious injuries on the county’s roads by 40 per cent by 2010. As an active members of the Hampshire Road Safety Partnership, both work closely with Hampshire Constabulary, local authorities and other organisations to improve road safety.
For further information please contact Charlotte Allison, Senior Road Safety Officer – Publicity
tel: 01962 874603 email: charlotte.allison2@hants.gov.uk