Ayrshire Roads Alliance Road Safety Team checked over fifty child car seats this week at Tesco Extra, Kilmarnock in partnership with Good Egg Safety.
Only a few passed with flying colours, as some had minor faults such as a twisted or slack harness or seatbelt. More serious faults included the seat being incompatible with the vehicle, the seat not meeting the current safety standard, having the belt route incorrect, or the carry handle in wrong position.
Councillor Jim McMahon, Cabinet Member for Older People and Community Safety, said: “The event in Kilmarnock helped raise awareness of the dangers of unsuitable child car seats and returned some startling results.
“One of the most common faults was the vehicle headrest impeding the fit of the car seat. The solution for this is simply to remove the headrest when the car seat is fitted. I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to come along and get their child’s car seat checked out.”
Parents and carers also need to be aware of loose items in the car, including child car seats. Child car seats should be secured with the car seat belt when not in use, and all other items should be placed in the boot as even a box of tissues becomes the same weight as a brick in a crash at 30mph.