Car seat warning as THOUSANDS of parents slapped with £100 fines across England

Comment now Next PARENTS are being reminded of important car seat rules to avoid being slapped with a fine. UK law states that children must normally use a child car seat until they’re 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first. Parents are being reminded of car seat rules to avoid a fine Source: Getty Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must always wear a seat belt. Advertisement However, a new survey of 1,200 parents with children under 12 found that thousands could be unknowingly putting themselves at risk of a fine by misunderstanding the UK’s child car seat law, research by Confused.com found.

Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. Almost 1 in 3 parents admitted they have driven with their child without the appropriate restraint at some point, whether that’s using the wrong car seat or no car seat at all. Among those who have done so, 35 per cent say they have been stopped by police .

READ MORE ON MOTORS MAG-NIFICENT Genesis GV60 Magma is a proper performance car with limo-like comfort BIG SAVINGS Motorists saved around £130billion from freeze to fuel duty since 2011 Offences varied from no seat being used at all to the wrong seat for the child’s age or size. The research found around 5,533 offences were committed across England and Wales in the past three years. Drivers can face a £100 fine, or up to £500 in court and penalty points if a child in the vehicle is not properly restrained.

Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance , comments: “Getting your child’s car seat right isn’t just about avoiding a fine; it’s one of the most important things a parent can do to keep them safe on every journey. Most read in Money GAS BILL SHOCK Millions face 9% gas bill hike to cover neighbours switching to heat pumps SHOP SHOCK Nation's cheapest supermarket revealed as Brits warned of £61 gap between rivals RATE SHOCK Millions hit by Bank of England rate hike - and warning of Xmas 'Grinch' rise AXE FALLS British telecoms giant slashes 11,700 jobs in brutal year-long cull “Yet, despite most parents feeling confident in their knowledge, our research shows a significant number are still unsure exactly when their child should move onto the next stage, or which seat is right for their age and size.

That uncertainty can have real consequences, both on the road and afterwards. Advertisement “It’s also worth remembering that getting this wrong won’t necessarily invalidate your car insurance outright. But following the law matters, for your child’s safety first and foremost.” Comment now