Too Big for a Car Seat? Not Yet. The Safety Step Parents Are Skipping
They may look big enough to drive around like the grown-ups – but children aged 4 to 12 are often driving unprotected. As South Africa marks Child Passenger Safety Week from 21 to 27 September, experts are urging parents not to skip one of the most crucial, and often overlooked, stages of car safety: the booster seat.
“Many parents see the move from a car seat to a seatbelt as a milestone of independence,” says Debbie Billson, from Maxi-Cosi. “But the reality is, a standard seatbelt is not built for a child’s body. Skipping the booster step puts children at serious risk.”
South African law currently mandates car seats only for children under the age of 3. But that leaves a dangerous gap. Children between ages 4 and 12, who are too big for toddler seats but too small for adult seatbelts, are often left unprotected.
Booster seats are specially designed to fill that gap. They lift the child up so that the vehicle’s seatbelt sits correctly across the hips and shoulder – not dangerously across the stomach or neck.
“A poorly positioned seatbelt can cause devastating internal or spinal injuries in a crash,” explains Billson. “With a booster, the same belt becomes a life-saving safety feature.”
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
- Up to 59% reduced risk of injury for children aged 4 to 8 when using a booster seat vs seatbelt alone
- Designed to accommodate growing bodies and ensure safe belt alignment
- Helps spread crash forces across the strongest parts of the child’s body
Despite this, booster seat usage remains low in South Africa – largely due to lack of awareness and outdated assumptions that seatbelts alone are “good enough.”
Children should continue to use a booster seat until they reach a height of 150 cm – typically around 10 to 12 years old. Many children under this height are simply not developed enough for a seatbelt to fit safely on its own. If the lap belt rides up on the tummy or the shoulder belt cuts across the neck, your child still needs a booster seat!
Modern vehicles are built with safety in mind, but they’re designed around adult bodies. That’s why Kelston Motor Group, a proud campaign partner, is raising awareness about the importance of proper child restraints – even in the safest cars.
“Booster seats aren’t optional; they’re an essential step in every child’s journey to safer travel,” says Peter McNaughton, Managing Director of Kelston Motor Group. “Any child under 150 cm tall still needs a booster seat – no matter how grown-up they look.”
Child Passenger Safety Week (21–27 September) is the perfect time to check your child’s car seat setup. Because when it comes to keeping your child safe on the road, there’s no such thing as skipping a step.
For more information, please visit: https://maxicosisa.co.za/news/child-passenger-safety/
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