Press Release
Shetland Islands Council supports Scottish In-Car Child Safety Campaign
Over the last seven years, almost 7000 child car seats have been inspected at special car clinics throughout the country and over half (51%) were either incorrectly fitted or incompatible with the child or make or model of the car they were being used in.
A child is ninety percent less likely to be killed in a collision if sitting in the right type of seat and correctly restrained.
However an unrestrained child can be killed or seriously injured in an impact at speeds as low as 5mph. In a collision at 30mph, an unrestrained child would hit the front seat - and anyone sitting in it – with a force of between 30 to 60 times their own bodyweight.
For the eighth consecutive year, Shetland Islands Council supports the ‘Scottish Good Egg In-Car Child Safety’ campaign and encourages local residents to attend child car seat clinics which will be taking place, to give practical assistance and advice to parents and to reduce the number of incorrectly fitted child car seats.
These free safety events will take place at the following venues:
Scottish Co-op Store Car Park, Lerwick Thursday 12th August 10am - 4pm
and
Tesco Store Car Park, Lerwick Friday 13th August 10am – 4pm
The ‘Good Egg Guide to In-Car Child Safety’ provides information on how to fit a child seat, choosing the right seat, the law and your responsibilities. It offers practical advice and highlights areas where improvements could be made to in-car child safety and to help reduce the number of child passenger casualties.
Elaine Skinley, Road Safety Officer said, "The statistics are extremely worrying because they show that many of the car seats being used by parents are not as safe as one would hope. That is why we are backing this campaign and why we would urge parents to carefully read the publicity material being distributed and to also take advantage of the free car seat clinics that have been organised. These checks will only take a few moments and they could save your child from very serious injury."
Councillor Allan Wishart, Chair of the Road Safety Advisory Panel said, “This is a lifesaving opportunity to ensure Shetlands children are safe whilst in the car. If you would like your child or grandchild’s car seat checked just contact the road safety officers who will be available at the Lerwick stores on the above dates”
These car seat clinics are part of the Shetland Seatbelt Campaign Week 9th –15th August 2010, which is in support of the 2010 Year of the Seatbelt. Northern Constabulary will support this local campaign by carrying out a weeklong enforcement in relation to wearing seatbelts.
To download the Good Egg Guide or for further information, visit www.stv.tv/childsafety and www.protectchild.co.uk