Driving safely is essential to know how to avoid traffic accidents. Within road safety we have to pay special attention to knowing how to choose the car seat for children; and in this case we are going to explain how to place a child seat in the car.
In this sense, it must be taken into account that you must have knowledge of the different Child Restraint Systems. These are mandatory to travel by car.
Beyond the legislative reasons, we must consider that it is necessary to highlight some points about the Traffic Law, which indicate how a trip should be organized when traveling with the smallest of the house. In this sense, it is important to take into account the following considerations:
- It is mandatory to use seat belts or other retention systems that are approved, and must be properly fastened, both when driving on interurban and urban roads.
- People who are shorter than 135 cm must use an approved retention device that is adapted to their weight, height and age.
- It is forbidden to circulate with children under 12 years of age who are seated in the front seats of the vehicle, unless they use approved systems for this. Exceptionally, in those cases in which the height is equal to or greater than 135 cm, children under 12 years of age may use the adult seat belt with which the front seats are equipped as this device.
- It is important and mandatory to disconnect the airbag when the child’s seat is placed in the front passenger seat. Children cannot use a rear-facing restraint device; installed in those passenger seats that are equipped with protection with a front airbag, unless it has been deactivated.
How to fit child safety seats?
Child Restraint Systems (SRI), such as car safety seats for babies and children; it is necessary to know how to place a child seat in the car, differentiating according to the group in question.
How to place a Group 0 seat?
Intended for babies from 0 to 10 kg, Group 0 seats can be carrycots or mini-carriers. In them, the baby must go with safety harnesses. In the case of the former, they must be located in the rear seats; and they must do it transversely to the march; and the baby will have to travel lying down and with the head facing towards the interior of the car.
In the case of the mini-cuckoos, these must be located in the opposite direction to the march in the rear seats. However, they could also go in the front with the airbag deactivated.
On the other hand, reference must be made to Group 0+, intended for babies between 0 and 13 kg. They are cuckoos of a size somewhat larger than those of group 0. They must be located in the opposite direction to the march, and in the rear seat, preferably in the center. They cannot be used in the front seat with the airbag activated.
How to place a Group I, II and III car seat?
When placing group, I, II and III car seats, these considerations must be taken into account:
- Group I. They are chairs located in the direction of travel and in the rear seat, preferably in the center. Intended for babies or children from 9 to 18 kg, this seat must be fixed by fixing it to the car seat through the seat belts or with the is fix system. If the system is anchored with the seat belt, it must be passed through the back of the seat and the base of the chair and fastened.
- Group II. For children from 15 to 25 kg, these seats are booster cushions with backrests or seats that are compatible with the vehicle’s own seat belt.
- Group III. They are seats for children from 22 to 36 kg. They are also called car booster seats. It is a chair without a backrest that allows older children to reach a height sufficient to be able to use the car’s seat belt at the height of the clavicle. It is important to keep in mind that it should always go over the clavicle and never over the neck. It is placed facing forward. To place a booster, the belt must be passed through the guides located under the armrests and the lap belt must be placed on your hips, where there are no areas with vital organs. Next, the diagonal belt will be pulled and carried through the guide that is duly integrated into the headrest. The waist will be located in the central part of the shoulder. Despite the fact that children under 12 years of age are obliged to use a child restraint system (SRI); if a child is 132 cm or taller, she can only use the adult seat belt.
