Seat Belts / Child Restraint Wearing in Cars and Goods Vehicle

This policy relates to the second part of the Directive 2003/20/EU.

This policy relates to the EU Directive 2003/20/EU, which requires the extension of compulsory seat belt/child restraint wearing in cars and goods vehicles. This part of the Directive contains a number of elements as summarised below;

All children under 3 must use an appropriate child restraint. (Effective from 09/05/2006)
Children aged 3 or more and up to 150 cms. in height must use a child restraint appropriate to their size. (Effective from 09/05/2006)
Rear facing baby seats must not be used in a seat protected by an active frontal air bag. (Effective from 09/05/2006)
All child restraints in use must conform to UN-ECE Regulation 44/03 or Directive 77/541/EEC requirements. (Effective from 09/05/2008)
All occupants of cars and goods vehicles must use seat belts, where provided, while seated and vehicle is in motion and the number of passengers carried may not exceed the number of seats available fitted with seat belts or child restraints. (Effective from 09/05/2009)

TO BE NOTED: Most of the requirements of the Directive must be brought into force no later then 9th May 2006 although the requirements in paragraph 4 above, which prohibits the use of non-compliant child restraints, must be implemented by 9th May 2008. Also paragraph 5 above has a delayed implementation date of 9th May 2009 to allow for a phased implementation.

TIME SCALES

Most of the elements of this Directive must be implemented no later than the 9th May 2006. The remainder have 2008 and 2009 as the implementation date. The D.O.E aims to have the necessary legislation in place in accordance with the dates quoted in the Directive.

CONSULTATION DETAILS:

ISSUED: 31/10/05
CLOSING DATE: 6/2/06

CONTACT DETAILS;

Clare Conway
Road Safety Branch
Clarence Court
10-18 Adelaide Street
Belfast
BT2 8GB

e-mail: clare.conway@doeni.gov.uk

TEL NO: 028 90 540822