Today, a special restraint device is a mandatory attribute for transporting children in a car. This requirement is established by clause 22.9 of the Traffic Regulations of the Russian Federation and approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 14, 2005 No. 767. The changes entered into legal force on January 1, 2007.
According to the above paragraph of the rules, transportation of children aged 12 years and younger should only be carried out using special devices to securely hold a child in a car in case of emergency situations or using other means that allow children to be secured using seat belts that are part of the vehicle.
Changes to how children are transported are likely to come into effect in September. So what are the new rules? Children under a height of 150 cm should not be transported in the front seat. Children who are not 150 cm tall have a special child seat, and when the child restraint is attached in the opposite direction, the airbag must be deactivated.
Judicial practice when transporting children using belt covers from the company "Fest"
It is allowed to carry a third child on the back seat without a child seat for at least 3 years, and the remaining two in child seats, and the car does not allow the installation of a third child seat. Children under three years of age cannot be transported in vehicles that are not equipped with standard seat belts.
A child can be transported in the front seat of a car only if there is a child restraint device (CDU).
Children under 12 years of age are prohibited from being transported behind the driver of a motorcycle, in a trailer or in the back of a vehicle.
Rules for transporting newborn children
The seat belts that most modern cars are equipped with are designed for passengers at least one and a half meters tall, therefore, due to their design features, such devices do not perform their main function in relation to small passengers.
Judicial practice on appealing decisions of traffic police inspectors for violations of the rules for transporting children
Remember that the middle seat in the back seat is the safest place to transport your child. Every year, about 1.2 million people die in road traffic accidents. The World Health Organization has identified five risk factors that contribute to this tragic outcome. These are: not using seat belts and child safety seats, not wearing a helmet, driving while drinking, excessive speed and lack of adequate infrastructure.
Child restraints are the only alternative option for ensuring the safety of children traveling in a car. The rule of securely securing the baby in the car will save the child during unforeseen situations on the road.
There are a few more rules to follow when traveling with children:
New wave of changes
In Poland, the vast majority of children were transported in chairs and other restraint systems. Despite the rather positive picture of the situation, much remains to be done. Due to the need to adapt Polish legislation to European legislation, changes were made to the Law on the Transportation of Children. The adopted rules did not completely change the existing regulations, but made significant changes that every driver should know.
The novel reduced the age limit and left a height limit. It was assumed that a child who overcomes the 150 cm limit will be able to ride without a seat. If he does not exceed this height, he will have to ride in a car seat until he reaches adulthood. There are two more entries associated with the child's growth. The rules prohibit the transportation of children under 150 cm in the front seat without a child seat. They allow children to be transported without a child seat, which measures a minimum of 135 cm in the rear seat. The condition is to secure the belt.
- Be sure to lock the doors and windows, regardless of whether you are standing or moving;
- install an additional rear-view mirror to monitor your child while driving;
- do not allow your child to drink or snack on the go;
- Never leave your child alone, even if you are going to leave for just a few minutes.
If your baby is acting up, don’t try to solve the problem on the fly, it’s not safe. Park in the nearest legally permitted space and calm your child down.
There is also a solution that allows you to carry your third child on the back couch. The child must be over 3 years old and, of course, must be attached. The remaining two children must be provided with appropriate safety seats. As a general rule, it is prohibited to transport children under 3 years of age in vehicles that are not equipped. An exception to this rule is transporting children by taxi.
The regulations also do not allow a child to be carried from the rear of the front passenger seat if the vehicle has an active passenger airbag. A child walking in the front of the back should have a wheelchair cushion, but keep in mind that the safest seats for children are in the back seat. If we carry a child in front of the car seat, facing the direction of travel, allow the maximum seat to move so that the cushion does not hit the child, causing serious injury.
Do not carry a child in your arms under any circumstances. In the event of an accident, the child’s weight, according to the laws of physics, will increase many times, and you will not be able to hold the baby, with all the ensuing consequences. Or just press down with your body.
Types of child car seats
Car seats are divided into five main categories, each of which corresponds to certain parameters of the child (height, weight, age).
The legislator also included provisions regarding the use of child restraints and child restraints. Their selection must take into account the weight and height of the child, compliance with the technical conditions established by European Union legislation, and their installation in the vehicle must be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Failure to comply with the rules will be punished, for carrying a child without a seat can lead us to a mandate of 150 zlotys and another 6 penalty points.
Compliance is the driver's responsibility. But associated with this obligation is an increase in the level of security, for which the rule is the basis. If we can raise this level, let's do it. The child's car seat is the height of the child, not the age of the child.
The car seat is equipped with special fasteners to hold the cradle in a stationary position in the back seat of the car. The child himself is securely secured in the cradle with soft and wide straps. All group 0 child restraint systems are reinforced with additional protection for the child's head.
The need to carry a child in a child safety seat will depend solely on their height, and the current 12-year limit will disappear. This will allow the new provisions of the Road Traffic Act to be introduced on Friday. The changes amend Polish legislation to the European Union directives on the use of seat belts and child seats.
He added that the biggest problem now is not whether the child is carried in a child seat, but that we cannot properly position the child and install it. "Even the most expensive, best ill-fitting child seat doesn't get the job done," he said.
The car seat is also used as a baby carrier.
This type of car seat is a cross between a car seat and a full-fledged chair. The child is placed in a reclining position and secured using wide five-point (Y-shaped) belts.
The design features of the group 0+ car seat allow you to use the device as a carrier or a high chair. Some models can be installed on a chassis, transforming the chair into a comfortable stroller.
Which car seat should I buy?
And for a very long time, young children could not take advantage of the benefits of this invention. That's why it's imperative to carry children in chairs that allow you to secure a belt, he said. According to the National Safety Council traffic 9 out of 10 children in Poland are transported in car seats.
Now the obligation to carry a child in a safety seat will depend only on its height. A child with a height of at least 150 cm will be able to travel without a child seat, regardless of age; Therefore, the current requirement that every child under 12 years of age travel in a child seat will disappear.
Devices in this group are necessarily equipped with internal five-point or three-point belts that can be adjusted in height. The back of the chair is also adjustable, reclining to ensure a comfortable position for the child while sleeping.
Child restraint systems of groups 0+ and 1 are similar in their characteristics and can be interchangeable until the child reaches certain parameters.
According to the draft, it is prohibited to transport children under 3 years of age without vehicles equipped with seat belts. It is permitted to carry a child without a child restraint seat under certain conditions. It is permitted to carry a child without a child seat in the rear seat, provided that the child is at least 135 cm high and is secured with a seat belt.
A child at least 3 years old - but without a child seat - can be carried in a seat belt in the back seat of a car when there are two children in the seats and there is no possibility of installing a third child seat. Do not carry children under 150 cm in the front seat.
Category 2– designed for children from three to seven years old to travel by car. Manufacturers often produce a universal version that combines groups 2 and 3. In the latter group, the child’s age is set from seven to ten years. The weight limit is 15–25 kilograms and 22–36 kilograms, respectively.
The design of the car seat, in addition to internal belts, provides for the use of a standard vehicle seat belt. And to transform the chair for the needs of children from group 3, the backrest of the child restraint system is removed.
It is prohibited to transport children under 150 cm in the front seat without a safety seat. Who is exempt from wearing seat belts? In addition, bus drivers are required to inform passengers of the need to use a seat belt if the vehicle is equipped.
Research shows that in the case of child seats, the fewest children ride them on regional roads, while the majority ride them on expressways and motorways. Most of the places were used in the Western Voivodeship, and the least in the Silesian Voivodeship. For transporting children without a seat, you may be charged 150 zlotys and 6 penalty points.
The booster does not have a back, but the device has armrests and special guides for safely securing the child with car seat belts.
The sixth group includes all other child restraint systems:
- frameless children's car seats (from 1 to 12 years);
- transformable chairs combining 1, 2 and 3 groups.
The reason for changing car seat categories should not be age, but the fact that the child has outgrown the seat. As soon as the baby’s temporal area is level with the edge of the car seat, you should move on to the child restraint system of the next age group. If the child celebrated his 12th birthday, but his height is less than a meter and 50 cm, the child restraint system should be left in the car until the child reaches the required parameters.
Height without a child seat is the most important criterion
New local regulations on the transport of children should adapt Polish legislation to European Union directives. So far, 9 out of 10 children have traveled to Poland, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Council. Now it is necessary to move the child in a child seat at a height of up to 150 cm, regardless of age.
At the same time, several derogations were introduced. Such a passenger can be transported in the rear seat without a seat and only with a seat belt. In the above situation, only the child is transported in the rear seat. Placing a child in the front seat requires that a child safety seat be installed at all times.
The video details about child car seats.
Where to install a child car seat
- The car seat (group 0) must be placed on the rear seat of the car perpendicular to the movement of the vehicle (along the rear row of seats).
- A group 0+ car seat is installed facing the direction of the vehicle (the child is in a rear-facing position) in the rear or front seat.
This situation is due to the peculiarities of the consequences of a frontal impact (frontal collision), in which the force of inertia throws a person forward. If the baby is seated against the direction of the car, he will only be pressed tighter to the back of the seat. In the forward-facing position, the fastening straps will hold the child’s body with a sharp jerk, but the cervical spine is not able to support the head. The consequences of incorrect positioning of the baby can be very serious.
Three children in the back seat
Another departure from the law includes carrying three children in the back seat. If two children are carried in a child seat and it is not possible to install a third device, a child from at least 3 years old can be secured with a seat belt.
Other provisions regarding the carriage of children
Driving a vehicle other than a car - rules governing vehicles in which a child can be transported without a child seat: taxi service, ambulance, police car, border guard or municipal security. Front child car seat - The child still cannot be rear-facing in the front seat, but technological advances are being taken into account. This method of transportation eliminates the fact that the car has an airbag, now its operation is more important.
- It is prohibited to carry a child under 3 years of age without a seat belt and seat.
- If the coach is equipped with seat belts, we are required to use them.
If your car is equipped with airbags– they should be blocked when you are carrying a child in the front passenger seat, since when the protection mechanism is activated, the speed and force of the airbags ejection can cause injury to the child.
- Categories 1, 2 and 3 are placed in the cabin in the direction of travel of the vehicle, and preference should be given to places located behind the driver's seat or in the middle of the rear row of seats (if the design of the car allows).
Installing a child restraint system behind the driver is justified from the point of view of a person’s instinctive behavior at the moment of danger: the driver automatically tries to deflect the blow from his side.
Regulations on children in child seats in other countries
Bringing children without a car seat is subject to a fine of PLN 150 and 6 penalties. The rules regarding the carriage of child safety seats up to 150 cm in child safety seats apply. In: Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy.
Child in the front seat
There is a ban on transporting children under 12 years of age in the front seats. In: Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, Greece, Germany, Portugal. Transporting children only in car seats, both front and rear, is used in the Czech Republic, Sweden, France, Great Britain, and Italy.
As for installation in the middle of the rear row of seats, if a frontal collision occurs, the child will be protected from being hit by the backs of the front seats.
All, without exception, safety devices for transporting children must be securely fastened with standard car seat belts or using the Isofix system (a stationary fastening device for child seats provided with some car brands).
In Sweden it is recommended to transport children under 4 years of age. According to changes to the Road Code, this rule also applies to children over 135 centimeters in height, but it is also possible for them to wear a seat belt. It is worth noting that the child restraint device can be, for example, a safety seat, a cushion, a children's basketball or a child seat.
Seats must be approved
Under the new Highway Code regulations, it is mandatory that child restraints are approved and suitable for the physical characteristics of children. These devices can be installed on the rear seats of the car, as well as on the front passenger seat. However, installation in the front seat is only permitted if the installation instructions allow it, and only if the seat airbag is disabled or if the vehicle is not equipped with an airbag for that position, the law states.
If it is not possible to buy a child car seat
Indeed, the average cost of quality child safety equipment is quite high. The price of Chinese consumer goods is encouraging, but most child car seats made by North Korean citizens serve only as a screen covering the eyes of the traffic police inspector. Such products have nothing to do with safety - the belts come off, the frame deforms at the slightest stress.
But what to do in a situation where the family’s financial situation is very unstable, but there is also no desire to risk the lives of the children?
- Firstly, you will still have to carry your baby in a car seat until a certain age (up to 3 years), since there is no worthy alternative to this option. Another thing is that you can significantly reduce costs if you buy a used car seat second-hand. Children grow quickly, so on thematic resources you can find many decent options at reasonable prices.
- Secondly, starting from the age of 3, a child can be secured in the back seat using a special adapter that forms the correct position of the standard car seat belts. This is also a cost-effective way out of the situation.
- Third, try making your own car seat. However, the reliability of such a device will be solely on your conscience.
The level of child safety directly depends on the quality of the restraint device, its correct installation and suitability for the child’s age category.
Responsibility for incorrect transportation of children
The concept of “improper transportation” includes not only the absence of a special restraint device, but also incorrect fixation of auto safety elements. In accordance with paragraph 3 of Art. 12.23 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, this violation is punishable by monetary a fine of 3,000 rubles.
Every driver is responsible not only for himself, but also for his passengers. If there are children in the car, then additional responsibility is imposed on the driver. Since 2016, new rules for transporting children have been in force, which we will talk about.
Any vehicle is designed in such a way that the built-in seat belts are only effective for passengers taller than 150 cm. When transporting children whose height is less than 150 centimeters, it is imperative to use a car seat, both in the back and front seats.
Many laws and sources indicate that children can be transported without a car seat from the age of 12, but this only means that usually by this age children have already grown above 150 centimeters and when transporting them, built-in seat belts can be used. If you use built-in belts to secure a child, they can simply put pressure on the neck of a child under 12 years old; in an accident, the child can slip out of the belts and get injured.
It is also strictly forbidden to hold children in the arms of one of the parents or other adults while moving, since in the event of an emergency the baby’s weight increases tens of times and holding him will be a big problem.
Clause 22.9
The Russian Traffic Regulations have clause 22.9. It regulates the rules for transporting children. To clarify this point, the following things will need to be said. The other means in question are various holding structures, even those that were made independently. But at the same time they must correspond to the weight and height of the child. Every car has the ability to fasten such a retaining structure.
It is strictly forbidden to transport children in the arms of their parents, this is very dangerous. At the speed limit in the city and an accident, the child’s weight increases 25-30 times and it is very difficult to keep the child from hitting him. In addition, an unbelted adult can, in an accident, press his body against a child and injure him.
Where and how best to install a child car seat
Russian Traffic Regulations 2016 allow children to be transported both in the front and back seats of a car, this is not a violation. But before placing a child in the front seat in a car, according to the Russian Traffic Regulations 2016, it is imperative to turn off the airbags. In the event of a collision, the pillow will hit the child in the back and may harm him.
The best place to install a child car seat is in the center of the back seat. This place in the car is the safest and is ideal for transporting children of any age in a car.
Types and types of child seats
Before you buy a child car seat for your child, you need to understand what type of seat you need. For children from 0 to one year old, you need a seat that will be attached to the front or back seat of a car. In this case, the baby will be secured in the chair with a belt that will cross his stomach. Or the baby can be secured in a reclining position and fastened with a three-point belt.
Also in a car you can use a chair from zero years old, in which the baby will half sit, while it is better to place the device with its back relative to the movement of the car.
For children from one to 4 years old, it is better to use seats in which the child is secured with a five-point harness. Such a seat can be placed both on the back and on the front seat and this will not be a violation of the RF Traffic Regulations 2016.
From three to seven years old, children in the car can use seats that have an adjustable backrest. In this case, the passenger is secured with standard car seat belts.
For older children from 7 to 12 years old, the chairs have some design features. For example, the back of a chair is detachable in case a child under 12 years old grows out of such a chair. The device also has a limiter for the upper strap of the belt.
When choosing a seat to transport a child in the front or back seat, parents should be in the mood for a serious purchase, but they must also consult with the child. It is best to choose a chair for children under 12 years of age with fitting, the baby should be as comfortable as possible there.
Then transportation, both in the front and rear seats, will be as comfortable as possible for both the baby and the parents, and the traffic police will not be able to fine the driver for violating the rules for transporting children under 12 years of age 2016.
What is the fine for incorrectly transporting children?
Not long ago, changes came into force in the rules for transporting children in a car in the back and front seats and for violating the Russian Federation in this area. Now drivers who incorrectly transport children in cars are punishable by a fine of 3,000 rubles. Moreover, as the law states, a violation is not only the absence of a special chair for children under 12 years old, but also its incorrect installation.
It is the responsibility of both drivers and parents to ensure that the child is transported in the car only in a special seat, otherwise they will have to break the traffic rules and then pay a considerable fine.
What changes occurred in 2016
In 2016, a legislative act introduced some changes to the Russian Federation's traffic rules that regulated the transportation of children in a car. According to the current traffic rules, if the child has not reached the age of 12, then he can only be transferred in a special chair.
At the same time, traffic police officers insist that if the baby has reached a height of more than 150 cm, then a chair is not required. But in this situation, it is best to act according to the rules and use special restraints for children. Also, the changes in 2016 affected the fact that it is necessary to use either car seats or boosters and no other devices.
On the bus
Since 2016, changes have also affected the transportation of children on the bus. Now the rules for the organized transportation of a group of children have become more stringent. Now the bus must be no older than ten years from the date of release. Also, the bus must have tachographs, as well as a satellite dish for navigation.
In addition, the rules for organized transportation of a group of children mean that children under 7 years old can be transported on a bus for no more than three hours. If the journey must last more than four hours, then since 2016 children must be accompanied by a health worker, and the bus must also have food for feeding children during the journey.
On the plane
As for transporting children under 12 years of age on an airplane, there are no age restrictions on the flight. But doctors recommend flying with children who have already reached the age of three months.
Typically, children under two years of age are transported on an airplane on the lap of an adult and the baby does not require a separate seat. For babies up to six months old, you can order a special cradle, especially if the flight is long. Disposable linen is included with the cradle. If you have the opportunity, you can bring your stroller on the plane. When the baby turns two years old, you will need to buy a separate ticket for him.
New rules for transporting children in cars. Choosing a car seat!
