Carrying Other People's Children Safely
Duty of Care
Any organisation or individual who carries other people's children has a legal duty to ensure they carry them safely.
Every year around 25 children under 12 years old are killed and 8,000 injured while travelling in cars in Great Britain. Many of these deaths and injuries can be prevented if children travel in baby seats, child seats or booster seats that are suitable for their size and weight, suitable for the car and are securely fitted.
Seat belts on their own are less effective for children because they are primarily designed for adults. In a crash, a child may slide under an adult belt because the lap strap is too high over their abdomen, or it could cause serious internal injuries.
As part of its health and safety system, any organisation that transports children must ensure its drivers are fit and competent, vehicles are safe and suitable, passengers are carried safely, and journeys are properly planned. Further advice on these issues is available here.
These web pages give advice on using child car seats and seat belts, which is relevant to parents sharing the school run as well as organisations providing a transport service.
Providing Child Restraints
Organisations or individuals who carry other people's children in cars, vans and other goods vehicles must make sure they provide appropriate child restraints (See Using the Right Restraint) for each child carried until s/he is able to use an adult seat belt on its own. Child restraints are rearward facing baby seats, forward facing child seats, booster seats and booster cushions. Different rules apply in buses/coaches (See Other Vehicles).
If you do not normally carry children, but know that, on occasion, you may need to do so at short notice, consider how you can make arrangements to have access to child restraints in such situations.
If you use other people's child restraints, get them to talk you through the manufacturer's instructions whilst showing you how to fit the seat first, so that you are sure you can fit it correctly.
Training
Staff need to be trained to assess that the child restraints provided are appropriate for the child and the vehicle, and to fit them, or at least check they are correctly fitted.
Some child seat manufacturers and retailers provide training and/or will check seats (See Useful Links).
The Road Safety Unit of the Local Authority or Police Force may be able to offer such training or a seat checking service, or recommend other training providers. Many also run Child Seat Check days at local venues, such as Supermarkets.
Insurance
Organisations should declare in writing to their insurers that they carry children in their vehicles, and keep a copy of relevant paperwork with their insurance documents.
Using Taxis, Buses and Coaches
Safety measures also need to be considered when hiring taxis, private hire vehicles, minicabs, minibuses, buses or coaches (See Other Vehicles).
Last updated: January 12, 2012
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