Child safety experts want parents to switch to high backed car seats

UK parents are putting their children’s life at risk due to car seat confusion.

According to new research, only 20 per cent of parents know that their children must use a car seat or booster cushion until either the age of 12 or upon reaching the height of 1.35 metres.

But it’s not all confusion with a fifth of parents ditching protective seats simply because their children pressured them to do so. 

Despite new research by Loughborough University showing that one in four car accidents occur from the side, the average UK parent stops using high-backed seats in favour of the booster cushions when their child is just six-years-old.

Whilst booster cushions are perfectly legal, safety experts at Britax are ditching them in favour of high-backed car seats.

Child Safety Expert at Britax, Mark Bennett explains “Our aim is to educate and encourage parents to use optimum safety measures for their little ones. Whilst booster cushions are better than no child car seat, they offer no side impact protection, and with one in four accidents happening side-on, this is essential”.

The move is backed by consumer magazine Which? who recently called for the backless booster to be phased out.