Plunket nurse Helen Luke checks that Ella-Rae La Dette is safe in her car seat. Photo / Sue Emeny
Plunket nurse Helen Luke checks that Ella-Rae La Dette is safe in her car seat. Photo / Sue Emeny
More than half the child restraints in cars checked during a special operation in Dannevirke on Wednesday were found to be incorrectly installed.
This was a joint operation run by Horizons Regional Council, Plunket, Dannevirke Police, Highway Patrol and a Little Buds child restraint technician.
The day-long operation saw checkpointsset up in Gregg St, at the request of Appleton Kindergarten, Guy St/ Allen St, by Dannevirke High School, near Dublin St and by the Dannevirke Showgrounds. Horizons road safety co-ordinator Debbie Webster said it was a busy day, with 111 car seats checked.
"Of these 60 child restraints were incorrectly installed while 51 were installed correctly. We gave out nine anchor-bolt installations and a number of compliance tickets were issued by police."
She said the results were similar to other checkpoints carried out in the region recently.
"There were the same issues as usual with tether straps not bolted, harnesses too loose on children, seatbelts not routed correctly through the child restraint and expired child restraints being used."
Sergeant Gary McKernon said three compliance notices were to be issued.
"However, of those two people returned having fixed the problem before we entered the notices so only one actually got entered."
Dannevirke police officer Dayna Mercer and Little Buds car seat technician Cathrine Larsen were part of the team checking child restraints. Photo / Sue Emeny
When a compliance notice is issued the vehicle has 28 days to rectify the fault.
"If they get the problem fixed and show us proof of that then they won't be fined. We would much rather they spent the money on getting things fixed."
Webster said most people were very obliging when it came to having their child restraints checked.
She said one of the issues was that many parents didn't realise that car seats carried an expiry date.
"Car seats can have expiry dates ranging from six to 12 years, depending on the brand."
Most child restraints used in New Zealand have upper tether straps which means they still use the vehicles seat belts and also have a strap that must be clipped on to an anchor point in the vehicle. These are generally on the rear parcel tray or in station wagons, on the floor behind the rear seats.
If there is no anchor point these can be bought from most places selling child restraints and can be installed by a mechanic.
In the case of using second-hand child restraints, the safest option was to have them checked by a certified technician.
Webster said two booster seats were donated to families who needed them.
These seats were among 10 donated by Tararua Alliance last month and will be given out on a case-by-case basis where there was a need for a helping hand.
Requirements for child restraints
By child's age, the law says you must:
Until their 7th birthday - correctly secure your child in an approved child restraint.
From their 7th to their 8th birthday - correctly secure your child in an approved child restraint if one is available in the vehicle (and if not, in any child restraint or safety belt that is available).
From 8th birthday to 14 years old - must use safety belts if available. If not available, they must travel in the back seat.
Over 14 years old - must use safety belts where they are available.
