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Parents should make sure that their babies are in safe seats and are not injured in case of unforeseen situations. For this, special rules have been created for transporting children in a car.
Carriage of Children Act
If you plan to transport your children in a car, it is important to comply with the requirements and rules for transporting children in a car, prescribed in the traffic rules.
According to the requirements, minor passengers can only ride in the passenger compartment of a car or in the cab of a truck (transportation of children in the back of a truck in a trailer is prohibited). It is also forbidden to transport children in the back seat of a motorcycle. You can not carry children in your arms, because in situations that arise in a collision, even at a low speed of the car, the weight of a small passenger increases several times, and it is extremely difficult to hold him in your arms. The maximum safety of the child while driving is provided only by a car seat. Therefore, do not break the rules, no matter how good your intentions may seem.
Note that the number of children transported more than eight people is allowed only on the bus. Its driver must have a special permit issued by the relevant authorities to carry out transportation of this type.
Changes in traffic rules
The traffic rules regarding the specifics of transporting children in cars came into force on July 12, 2017, since then there have been no changes. In 2017, new fines were introduced for leaving small passengers unattended by adults in a car, the rules for using child car seats in a vehicle and transporting children under 7 and 7 to 11 years old also changed, and new fines appeared for violating the rules for transporting children in a car.
So, let’s take everything in order. In a car equipped with seat belts, transportation of children under 12 years old is possible only when using a special restraint device. It can be a special chair or a car cradle (depending on the age of the child).
Babies are required to be in a carrycot installed in the back row of seats. A child under 7 years old – in a special car seat. From 7 to 12 years old, a child can be both in a car seat and in a special restraint device.
Transportation of infants under 1 year old
In the first months of a baby’s life, it is recommended to use an infant carrier. This is a special device designed for babies, there are different categories – up to 10 kg, up to 15, up to 20. The child is located in it in a completely horizontal position. Such a holding device is installed perpendicular to the direction of travel in the rear seat, while occupying two places. The child is fastened with special internal belts. You can also transport a child in the front seat – most importantly, with your back to the movement.
Why is it recommended to use a car seat? The fact is that the musculoskeletal tissue of the baby is not yet developed, which is why the skeleton is quite flexible and vulnerable. At the same time, the weight of the head is approximately 30% of the mass of the body, and the underdeveloped muscles of the neck are not yet able to hold the head with sharp nods. And in the prone position, there is practically no load on the neck and spine, which makes the trip safe for the child. Even with sudden braking, nothing threatens him.
Transportation of children under 7 years old
A child under 7 years of age must be transported in a passenger car and a truck cab. They must be designed with seat belts or seat belts and an ISOFIX child restraint system.
In simple terms, a child under 7 years old must be in a car seat, or in a special restraint and a seat belt fastened.
Transportation of children from 7 to 12 years old
The third point is the transportation of children from 7 to 11 years old. Children must also be transported in a passenger car and truck cab that are designed with seat belts or seat belts and an ISOFIX child restraint system.
Children from 7 to 11 years old can also be transported in the front seat of a car, but only using child restraint systems (devices) that are appropriate for the weight and height of the child. Otherwise, a fine.
Remember that if you are carrying a child in the front seat in a car seat, you must turn off the airbag, which can injure a small passenger in an accident.
Transportation of children after 12 years
From the age of 12, you can already forget about the child seat, but only if your child is above one and a half meters. If lower, then it is recommended to use restraints even after reaching the age of 12 years.
Now the child can ride in the front seat without restraints, wearing only adult seat belts.
Use of child seats and seat belts
As a rule, the infant carrier or car seat is fastened with standard car belts or with special brackets. In the car, the fastening device is installed perpendicular to the movement of the car.
Special car restraints are selected according to the age and weight of the child. For example, a car seat is used for children under 6 months, from 6 months to 7 years – a car seat is required, from 7 to 11 – a car seat or restraint.
When transporting children in a car, the car seat can be installed both in front and behind. Once again, we recall that the installation of a seat in the front seat means that it is necessary to turn off the airbags, since if they are activated, they can injure the child.
When transporting a child who has reached the age of 12 (height over 150 cm), the airbag must be activated.
Fines for violating the rules for transporting children in a car
The new rules, which came into force in 2017, provide for fines for non-compliance with the requirements for transporting children in a car.
The traffic police fine for the lack of a child seat is now 3000 rubles for an ordinary driver, 25 for an official, 000 rubles for a legal one. 100 days from the date of drawing up the protocol are given to pay the fine. A traffic police fine for the absence of a child restraint (seat, booster or belt pads) is subject to a 000% discount. Noticing a child without a seat in the car, a police officer will definitely stop your car.
Leaving in the car
Since 2017, children cannot be left alone in the passenger compartment. Paragraph 12.8 of the SDA reads as follows: “It is forbidden to leave a child under 7 years old in the vehicle while it is parked in the absence of an adult.”
If the traffic police detect a violation, the driver will be held administratively liable under part 1 of Art. 12.19 of the Code of Administrative Offenses in the form of a warning or a fine of 500 rubles. If this violation is recorded in Moscow or St. Petersburg, the fine will be 2 rubles.
This is designed to prevent the possibility of leaving children in danger of overheating, heat stroke, hypothermia, fright. It will also help to avoid a situation where a vehicle with unattended children in the passenger compartment starts to move, and thus the lives of children are seriously endangered.
Improper transportation of children
Traffic police officers can fine you not only for the absence of a child seat, but also for the fact that it is incorrectly installed.
A child seat or carrycot must never be installed facing backwards. This could result in death or serious injury in the event of an accident or even sudden braking.
The second thing that relates to the improper transportation of children is the transportation of children in a car in the arms of adults. This is deadly, because upon impact, the baby will fly out of the hands of the parent, which is fraught with tragic consequences.
The car seat must be appropriate for the weight and height of the child. You must buy it along with it. You should not buy a restraint “for show” – you should choose a quality product that suits your child.
Under no circumstances should children be transported in a box or trailer. Also, children under 12 years of age cannot be passengers of motorcycles – even if they wear the necessary equipment and a helmet.
Expert Commentary
Roman Petrov lawyer:
– Often, motorists ask themselves the question – is it possible to transport children in the front seat? It’s time to dispel the myth that the child should be in the back. A minor can ride in front – this is a fact. You can install an infant carrier (up to 6 months), a car seat or a restraint here. A child from the age of 12 can also ride in front without a seat, the main thing is to fasten him with seat belts.
You can only be fined for the fact that the child is not riding in a seat or infant carrier. The Code of Administrative Offenses provides that a fine can be issued for a child in the front seat only if it is transported without a car seat.
There are also no specific rules on where exactly a child can be transported. You can install a seat, both behind the driver and in the middle. Where exactly in the car he will sit is up to you. But the safest place is considered to be behind the driver. However, in this position, it is quite inconvenient to observe the child. The best option would be to seat a young passenger in the second row in the center. It will be convenient for the driver to look after the baby through the mirror in the cabin. If the child is naughty and does not want to sit in the back, then the best way out is to install the seat in front, following all the rules described above. The most important thing is to turn off the airbags.