Operation to educate drivers of the importance of child car seat safety

Would your child’s car seat protect them in the event of a collision?

Officers from our Roads Policing Unit have been conducting checks on child car seats this week to help raise awareness of the importance of a correctly fitted car seat.

Working in conjunction with partners from the Wiltshire Road Safety Partnership, officers based themselves outside County Hall in Trowbridge yesterday (5/4) to carry out random checks on vehicles.

In total, more than 60 car seats were checked, and fortunately the majority were safe and suitable for use.

However, a number of seats were discovered to be unsuitable for various reasons and would not have afforded the child sufficient protection in the event of a collision.

Sgt Will Ayres, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: “This was a really positive event which focused predominantly on education rather than enforcement, and of all the vehicles stopped, we were really pleased to see the majority were legal and sufficiently maintained to offer optimum protection should the vehicle ever be in a collision.

“The seats that were checked that did require attention mainly only needed a few small changes that the specially trained professionals from the Road Safety Partnership were able to offer, as well as further education for the drivers.

“There is nothing more precious than the life of a child, and small steps can ensure they are transported in the safest way possible, so I would urge drivers to be extra mindful and ensure the seats they use for their children are fitted correctly - if you are unsure, please come along today to see us in Marlborough or tomorrow in Salisbury.”

While the majority of drivers were stopped by officers and directed into the check site, some members of the public had heard about the event and attended for checks to be carried out.

Mr Gardner, from Trowbridge was stopped at the site with his 20 month old daughter, and was shocked to realise that the car seat they were using albeit legal and of good quality was incorrectly fitted and would not offer enough protection in the event of a collision. He purchased a new seat immediately which was fitted on site and the additional benefits of the new seat were explained.

He said: “It is a great event and without realising my daughter was in an incorrect seat, the small cost of a compliant safe seat is worth it to increase my daughters safety, and I thank the team for helping.”

• Officers will today be in George Lane car park in Marlborough from 10am to 3pm and on Thursday they’ll be at the fire station in Ashley Road, Salisbury. No booking is needed – if you’d like your car seat checked please just turn up.

For more information on car seat safety, visit https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules