Time flies with children. just yesterday we smiled at our little bundle of humanity in its baby car seat in love and wondered how tiny such a newborn is. And today? our baby has become a rather large schoolchild almost overnight, who has been insisting for days that a child seat is quite embarrassing and that he will certainly not ride a meter in it again. We were all young once and maybe we even remember the situation from our childhood when we tried to convince our own parents that we didn’t need a seat anymore. Do you still remember? The fact is: the current child seat obligation, according to which children up to a height of 150 cm or more are allowed to drive in a car without a child seat, does not apply. Until their 12. birthday in the car must be secured with a child restraint system, exists as such already since 1993. Since then, many things have fortunately changed and improved in the area of child seats, but our grandchildren will certainly still be having the discussions about child seats.
Does my child still need a child seat?
That your child up to the age of 12 years or. The fact that a child must be transported in a child seat up to a height of 150 cm is due to the fact that the vehicle seat belt is designed for the height and stature of an average adult. If your child is smaller than 150 cm, the belt is usually not positioned optimally (at the neck instead of over the shoulder, over the belly instead of at the pelvis, etc.).). There is also a risk that the child may slip out of the safety belt in the event of an accident. The touring club switzerland resp. TCS mobility consulting captured such a scenario on video during a crash test:
It is a fact that, according to the German Federal Statistical Office, around 1.000 children under 12 years of age in the parents’ vehicle in an accident on the way to school. The German statutory accident insurance (DGUV) therefore pointed out u. A. In its press release dated 26. May 2010 repeatedly points out the importance of child seats for older children (pdf for download). For many years, the ADAC has also been pointing out that even older children must be secured with and in child seats as part of the child seat obligation and the legal provisions for the prevention of serious consequences of accidents.
Nevertheless, parents are often still unsure and many of them wonder:
Does my child still have to sit in a child seat and how does it sit correctly when it is only secured with the vehicle seat belt??
Your child must be at least 12 years old or 150 cm tall to be transported in a car without a child seat. If your child has already reached the required age, but is still smaller than 150 cm, we recommend that you continue to use a group II/III seat, as otherwise the optimum run of the seat belt cannot be guaranteed.
These seats are approved up to a weight of 36 kilograms, but they may and must be used above this weight if the child is not yet old or has not yet grown up. is big enough to drive without a child seat (source).
The following should be observed when your child rides in the car without a child seat:
1. the child is at least 150 cm tall or at least 12 years old.
2. Your child’s back must rest against the vehicle seat.
3. Make sure that your child’s knees are flush with the car seat. If your child’s thighs are too short to bend the knees, you should wait a while before transporting your child without a seat. Only a perfectly seated child is optimally protected in the event of an accident.
4. Pay attention to the course of the belt: the lap belt must run along the hips and must never be in the abdominal area. A belt that goes across the abdomen can cause the most serious internal injuries in the event of an accident.
5. The shoulder belt must run between the neck and shoulder and rest on the collarbone. This is the only way that the safety belt can adequately protect your child in the event of an accident. Never place the seat belt directly on the neck: this is not only uncomfortable, but can also lead to death in the event of an accident. If the height of the seat belt in your vehicle is adjustable, make sure that it is adjusted correctly.
6. Appeal to your child’s sense of responsibility. The safety belt only provides optimum protection for your child if it is seated correctly. Your child should not lean forward, fidget or play with the belt.
Make sure you check whether your child is big enough and mature enough to drive without a child seat and observe the legal regulations.