Making sure children are properly secured in the car and following the rules is essential to ensuring that their trips are safe and comfortable.
How to properly secure your children in the car? We’ve got all the answers.
Road Safety for Children
Child safety in cars must be a priority. What is the current situation in France?
Common installation errors
A major study was conducted in France on road safety for children under 18, carried out by the Accidentology Laboratory (LAB), Bébé Confort, and the Prévention Routière association.
The survey notes that in many cases, restraint systems are not installed correctly. Examples of installation errors include:
- For booster seats: an improperly adjusted upper harness guide or a seat belt that is not positioned correctly (for effective and maximum protection, the seat belt should run above the armrests and under the child’s arm).
- For car seats: a twisted harness, insufficient tension in the harness, or the child’s shoulders slipping out of the harness.
Since 2011, all vehicles of all makes must be equipped with the international ISOFIX standard, a system that allows a car seat to be secured in the vehicle without using the seat belt. This system therefore helps reduce the risk of installing the seat incorrectly. However, older vehicles do not have this system and must therefore install car seats using only the adult seat belt.
To date, only 3 out of 20 car seats use the Isofix attachment system.
What are the regulations for properly securing children in a car?
In France, it is mandatory to secure children in a car using an appropriate restraint system:
- up to age 10
OR
- until the child is tall enough to use a seat belt (between 1.35 m and 1.50 m)
Children over the age of 10 or taller than 1.50 meters may use a seat belt. It is important to remember that everyone in the vehicle must be properly secured at all times, even if the vehicle is traveling slowly or the trip is very short.
In addition, the driver is responsible for ensuring that passengers under the age of 18 comply with these guidelines (2005 regulations). Transporting a minor without a restraint system appropriate for their age and size is punishable by a fixed fine of €135 for the driver.
Kidcab ensures your children travel safely
Unfortunately, in some regions, many children are unable to participate in extracurricular activities due to their parents’ lack of time and a shortage of suitable transportation options. This has to change!
At Kidcab, we prioritize children’s safety above all else and operate in full compliance with applicable regulations. We have established rigorous screening, support, and safety protocols for all our services, and we select our drivers with the utmost care.
To ensure your children get to school or their after-school activities safely and with peace of mind, we provide vehicles with experienced drivers on weekdays, weekends, and even during school breaks.
Are you interested in our services? Contact us today and request a quote! Our offers are tailored to your needs to make your life easier.
