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1.26
CHILD SAFETY(continued)
In all countries there are regulations
governing the use of restraints for
children and babies.
In Europe, children under 12 years
of age or a height of less than
1.50 m
(1)(4 ft 11 inches) must travel
in an approved seat that is suitable
for the height and weight of the
child.
The driver is responsible for
ensuring that this equipment is used
correctly.
Remember that a collision at 30
mph (50 km/h) is the same as
falling a distance of 10 metres.
Expressed in other terms,
transporting a child without a
restraint is the equivalent of
allowing him or her to play on a
third-floor balcony which does
not have any railings.
(1) Always comply with the laws of the
country in which you are travelling.
They may be different to the
guidelines in this handbook.
Under no circumstances
should babies or children
be allowed to travel
sitting on the knees of
another passenger in the vehicle.
If a head-on collision occurs at
30 mph (50 km/h) a child
weighing 30 kg (66 lbs) will be
transformed into a missile
equivalent to one tonne: you will
find it impossible to hold the
child, even if you yourself are
wearing a belt.
It is particularly dangerous to put
the belt round your child when
he or she is sitting on your knee.
Neverusethesamebeltformore
than one person at the same time.Child restraints for which type
approval was obtained after 1992
provide a level of security greater
than for restraints with type
approval before that date.
It is therefore advisable to select a
child restraint that complies with
European regulation ECE 44.
Restraints that comply with this
legislation must be marked with an
orange label bearing the letterE
followed by a number (which
stands for the country where it is
type approved) and the year the
type approval was granted.
The standard classifies the
restraints in five categories:
Category0:from0to10kg(0to22lbs)
Category 0+: from 0 to 13 kg (0 to 28 lbs)
Category 1: from 9 to 18 kg (20 to 40 lbs)
Category 2: from 15 to 25 kg (33 to
55 lbs)
Category 3: from 22 to 36 kg (48 to
80 lbs)
