New car seat rules too confusing for parents, research shows

The new car seat regulations send 'mixed messages' to parents with most people still unclear on what the rules allow them to do, new research reveals.

With less than a month until the regulations come into effect in March 1, just one in ten (13%) parents told Confused.com they understand the new rules.

Under the new booster guidelines, parents will no longer be able to buy backless boosters for smaller children, but can still use current backless seats, providing their child weighs at least 15kg.

Backless seats will still be available for purchase, but the user will have to weigh more than 22kg and be taller than 125cm.

'The current regulations are understandably hard to understand and the new changes may make it even trickier for parents to keep their children safe,' said Amanda Stretton, Motoring Editor at Confused.com.

'The fact that car seats bought before the law change will still be acceptable to use sends mixed messages.'

She urged the government to simplify the messaging of the new regulations so parents are clear about what is and what is not safe.

Tanya Robinson, Child Safety Centre Manager at the Transport Research Laboratory told The Independent that in order to ensure they comply with the rules, parents need to weigh their children – something that they might not have got into the habit of doing.

Robinson said: 'We've done checks and asked parents, do you know how much the child weighs -- most people say they don't know. It is worrying.'

The new rules on booster seats were brought in following warnings from safety experts at the UN that they are not safe for smaller children because they do not protect against side-on collisions.