Work to be done to keep children safe on the road

More than 70 per cent of car seats assessed at child car restraint fitting clinics in Marlborough during the past year were incorrectly installed.

Child restraint technician Emma Barnett, who coordinates the clinics on behalf of Council, said many common errors had been observed in the past year, with just 27 per cent correctly installed.

“In those instances, caregivers were provided with advice about the next stage of car seat requirements for their child and had the opportunity to ask questions.

“In the other cases, caregivers were given advice about where they had gone wrong with the install, and we were usually able to fit their seat correctly for them, providing tips and advice throughout the process,” Emma said.

In some cases, the seat was incompatible with the vehicle, and needed to be replaced with a suitable alternative.

Other common errors included the use of expired seats, weight limits being exceeded, tether straps not being used or used incorrectly, turning the child to face the front too early, not using a booster seat in instances where it was advised, not following the manual for the seat correctly, or having the seat or capsule at the wrong angle, which can restrict breathing in infants.

The purpose of the workshops was to provide parents with the information needed to make safe decisions for their children, Emma said.

“At the clinic people can get advice, check and correct seats where required, help install new seats and provide advice that enables parents or caregivers to do it correctly in future, and to help them to find solutions,” she said.

Alongside the clinic, there are online groups that provide sound car seat advice, and Automotive Solutions in Blenheim are experts when it comes to fitting anchor points, Emma said.

She encouraged everyone to do their research to ensure their children are safe.

“Having a correctly fitted, age-appropriate car seat that is easy for parents, grandparents and guardians to use is important to keep tamariki safe on our roads and reduce injury in a crash. The best seat isn’t often the most expensive one, either. Opt for one that fits the child, the car and the family well,” she said.

The clinic is held at Redwoodtown Plunket Rooms every second Tuesday. Bookings are preferred; you can make an appointment by phoning Emma on 027 390 0767.