HAMPSHIRE police will be on a mission next week to help parents ensure children’s lives are saved by properly fitted car seats.

As part of the UN’s Road Safety Week, which this year is focusing on improving safety for youngsters travelling in cars, officers will be hosting a number of events to help mums and dads correctly fit car seats.

They are joining forces with several stores across the region to host the events, where parents can just pop along to check the seats.

Parents are being urged to check their child seats rather than risk finding out that they aren’t fitted properly during a collision.

Sergeant Rob Heard, pictured below, the road safety sergeant for Hampshire Constabulary, said: “We’re fully embracing this awareness week and together with our partners we want to help educate and support parents and others about the importance of looking after our children while they travel on the roads.

Daily Echo:

"This week isn’t about enforcing the law, but giving people the information they need to look after children on the roads.

“Research from the Good Egg Safety team shows that last year around 71 per cent of car seats in England and Wales were incorrectly fitted and that parents receive little advice on choosing the right seat.

“Anybody can have an incorrectly fitted seat, and it is not something to feel guilty or be embarrassed about. It is certainly better to find out any problems with your seat during a checking event, than in a collision.”

Officers will be at WestQuay Shopping Centre car park, by the lower lifts, on May 6, between 11am and 4pm, and at Tesco in Tebourba Way, Millbrook, on May 8, between 11am and 4pm.