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MOTORISTS in Killarney have until 5.30pm today to avail of a top-class free service that will help them check that their children’s car seats are fitted correctly.

Shockingly, statistics show that four out of five car seats are incorrectly fitted. Receiving correct advice and guidance is crucial and all day today, Killarney Gardaí have been joining forces with the Road Safety Authority’s “Check it Fits” service.

A team of experts are currently offering help at Deerpark Tesco (behind Tesco) to provide a free service for parents to avail of practical advice and expert fitting of their child car seats. “Following this information and awareness campaign by the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána, we will commence an enforcement operation between now and Christmas. This enforcement operation is specific to Killarney at the moment,” said Sergeant Dermot O’Connell of Killarney Gardaí. ”All children under 150cms, approximately 4 feet 10 inches in height, or 36kgs (79lbs) in weight must use a child restraint system (CRS) suitable for their height and weight while travelling in a car or goods vehicle (other than a taxi).”

An example of a CRS would be a child car seat or booster cushion/booster seat. Rear-facing child car seats must not be used in passenger seats protected by an active frontal airbag. An airbag which deploys (opens up) in front of a rearward-facing child car seat can cause serious injury or even death if there is a collision.

There is no law against children sitting in the front seat, as long as they are using the right child restraint for their height and weight. However, as above it is illegal to use a rearward-facing child car seat in a passenger seat protected by an airbag. The deployment of an airbag where a rearward–facing baby seat is in place can cause serious injury to the child or even death.

The service takes between 10-15 minutes, is free of charge and offers parents and guardians reassurance that their child is safe while travelling in the car.

Since ‘Check it Fits’ began in October 2013, the RSA service has checked over 8,000 child car seats and restraints across Ireland. Of these, 82% required some adjustment. Worryingly, 75% of seats required a major adjustment, of which 4% were deemed not fit for purpose and condemned, meaning they have the potential to cause injury or even death in the event of a collision.

Ron Richardson of Check if Fits informed us that the team will be in Tralee tomorrow, Wednesday, October 26, at the car park near SuperValu on Rock Street. They will be there from 10am to 5.30pm to check your child car seat for free.
For more information on Check it Fits and for an up-to-date schedule of upcoming road shows, visit http://www.rsa.ie/checkitfits
 

 
Above: Ron Richardson, Check it Fits, and Garda Finbarr O'Donovan.