PARENTS across Hampshire are being urged to check the safety of their children’s car seats as part of a campaign across the county. Despite legislation governing car seats for children coming into force in 2006, a new survey has revealed thousands of parents are risking their children’s lives because they do not know the law.

According to the consumer magazine Which?, more than a third of parents underestimate the age or height at which a child can travel without a child car seat.

With more families likely to holiday in the UK this summer, children could be at greater risk on the county’s roads.

As a result, Hampshire County Council has launched a free car seat checking service for parents. Mums and dads can take advantage of the drop-in sessions were experts can carry out a safety check of the seat and give any advice or recommendations.

Mum About Town visited a session at Eastleigh Fire Station where, thankfully, the car seat was given a clean bill of health.

But that hadn’t been the case throughout the day. Of the 25 seats they had inspected, the majority were not fitted correctly and, of those, two were unsuitable for the cars they were in.

Road safety officer Vicki Barsby said: “My general advice would be for people to make sure they are given a demonstration and have it fitted with a reputable retailer, but even today we have seen that doesn’t always ensure a proper fit.

“That is why these checks are so helpful so parents can get that extra check and ask if they are unsure.”

She said it was vital that parents had their seat fitted by a reputable retailer. “It really is a matter of life and death. Having a car seat that isn’t fitted properly can lead to serious injury for a child.”

Vicki agreed with the survey results that parents were still confused and, in some cases, not aware of the law surrounding car seats.

“Parents do seem in general to be too keen to move their child on to the next stage of seat. We still see booster cushions being used, for example.

“A lot of parents think it is about the age at which children should be in the next stage of seat but that is irrelevant, it is all about the weight and height of a child.

“You lose a percentage of safety every time you go up a stage in car seats so it is essential that they have the right protection for their build.”

The next car seat safety check event will be held at Alton fire station on August 8.