Friday, 03 November 2017

Grandparents urged to belt up

Nearly three quarters of a million grandparents drive cars with children incorrectly seated

Over 700,000 British grandparents admit to not always driving with the correct safety precautions for their grandchildren

Many grandparents drive over 200 miles per year without their grandchildren buckled in properly

Three in five grandparents aren't aware of child seat laws and one in seven don't always use them

New research from leading insurer LV= reveals that almost three quarters of a million (700,000) British grandparents are driving their grandchildren around without following correct safety procedures.

In a study to understand awareness of child safety rules among older generations, around one in seven (14%) grandparents admitted they don't always follow recommended car seat rules. With grandparents travelling, on average, an extra 216 miles a year to cater to their grandchildren, it means that over 151 million miles are driven each year where children are potentially at risk – equivalent to 6,074 round-trips of the Earth.

Added to this, two in five (39%) grandparents wrongly think a seatbelt is just as safe as a car seat, and over a quarter (26%) of those with a grandchild aged between six and nine feel it's safe to drive without a car seat or booster seat.

The research comes following a crackdown in the law earlier this year, stating that children must use a car seat until they are aged 12 or have grown above 135cm tall. Three in five of the grandparents surveyed admitted they weren't aware of the changes to the law, with over half (55%) saying this new knowledge would definitely change their behaviour.

As a result, LV= has committed to working with its customers to raise awareness of the law. The company is also calling on the Government to work in partnerships with manufacturers, schools and the authorities to raise awareness among both grandparents and parents to help them better understand the importance of using the appropriate child seats.

LV= managing director of car insurance, Selwyn Fernandes, said, 'Every day, many grandparents provide invaluable help to their families by providing childcare. This will include countless car journeys and, in light of our new research we feel it's important to raise awareness of the law and help families understand the importance of it. In doing so, we hope to clear up the confusion and ensure grandparents feel more confident that they are driving their grandchildren safely and legally.'