Even before the child seat requirement was introduced, the Storchenmühle company launched a child seat in 1963. With this, the children were protected from the child seat requirement for 30 years. This was introduced in Germany on April 1, 1993. Until now, children up to the age of 12 were allowed to ride in the rear of the vehicle, secured with the conventional 3-point seat belts. It was clear that the belts did not fit the children, and accidents involving children resulted in serious injuries and deaths.
Child safety seat regulations
The road traffic regulations state that children under the age of 12 and whose height is less than 150 cm must be transported in special seats. The StVO regulates exactly which age group is suitable for which seat. There is a label on each seat that provides information about the approval. Approved standards are ECE R 44.03, i-Size, UN R129 and ECE R 44.04.
When purchasing, one of these standards must be listed on the rating plate in order to be able to transport the child in accordance with the child seat requirement in Germany. Still, according to samples, only a third of all children are properly secured. The seats are either incorrectly fitted or the straps have been tightened too little. Some child seats were purchased cheaply, some even used, and are without a safety certificate.
Legislation also requires the child seat to fit the size or age of the child. There are child seats in specialist shops that grow with you. These can be used from baby age until the end of the child seat requirement. The nameplate of the child seat shows which weight the seat is suitable for. Every seat has a test version. Seats are only legally compliant if they begin with the sequence 03 or 04. Child seats with test numbers 01 or 02 are outdated and may no longer be used.
Child seat categories
There are 4 categories of child seats. Class 0+ is for babies up to 13 pounds. It may only be installed against the direction of travel. If there is a passenger airbag that cannot be deactivated separately, the child seat must be attached to the rear seat. The child may only be transported in the front passenger seat if the airbag can be switched off.
Children older than 9 months and weighing between 9 and 18 kg must be accommodated in a class 1 child seat. These can be used both in and against the direction of travel. For safety reasons, however, it is recommended to mount the seat against the direction of travel. A simple booster seat is usually sufficient for children weighing 15 to 36 kilos. Experts advise against this. On Child is not protected in the event of a side impact. It is therefore recommended to use a child seat of class 2 or 3. This seat shell supports the neck and also protects the child from the side.
Required by law
The law stipulates that child seats must be properly installed. Already with the purchase you have to have the correct assembly shown by the seller. If the child seat requirement is not met, a fine of 60 euros can be imposed.
If several children are not or poorly secured in the car, the amount increases to 70 euros. In addition, the driver gets a point in Flensburg.
If a child is traveling in the car, it is imperative to use a suitable child seat or baby seat. Safety comes first and is the most important thing when driving.
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