Safety

Users' guide to protecting the world's children.

Babies and children are the most vulnerable road users. Parents who wish to make sure that their child is safe when travelling by car may wish to consult this brochure. It should help parents understand the importance of using a well selected child's seat that offers the maximum possible protection to our beloved.

1. Why to protect your child?

Babies and toddlers have – compared to older children and adults – weaker neck muscles carrying a relatively large and heavy head in relation to their body. To reduce the risk of severe injuries in the case of crashes or emergency braking, it is important that this group of children is transported against the driving direction for as long as possible.

 Always use a child restraint system when transporting your child in a car. 

2. What are the legal requirements?

Most of national or regional legislation requires the use of child restraint systems for the transport of children up to a certain age or
height.

 Please consult the legal requirements that apply in your country. 

3. Use and misuse of child restraint systems.

Where the use of child restraint systems is required by law, a high rate of use of these systems can be observed at least for children up to 1 year of age. However the rate of use is drastically reduced especially as of the age of 5 years. Furthermore high rates of improperly installed universal child restraint systems or even unsecured children in a child restraint system have been observed. Child restraint systems using ISOFIX anchorages for their installation reduce the possibility for misuse or improper installation.

 Please follow the instructions for installation and use of your child restraint system. 
 > Air-bags have to be deactivated when using a rear facing child restraint system in the first row! 

4. Approved child restraint systems

a. UN Regulation No. 44
Child restraint systems approved under UN Regulation 44 are classified into five weight groups. For children up to 13 kg they are rearward facing. For the groups up to 18 kg these child restraint systems have integrated harness system or impact shield. The groups for heavier children up to 36 kg mostly use the vehicle's safety belt for restraining.

b. UN Regulation No. 129

Child restraint systems approved under UN Regulation No. 129, the so called "i-Size" systems, are classified in accordance with the size of the child. From birth to 15 months old, rearward facing systems are mandatory. "i-Size" child restraint systems are installed using the ISOFIX anchorage points and either a top tether or a support leg is used as a third anchoring point for enhanced stability. These child restraint systems can be used universally on seats marked with the "i-seat" symbol. In addition to the body size of the child, the maximum suitable weight of the child is indicated on the approval label Specific vehicle "i-Size" child restraint systems are approved for certain vehicle types where the universal type would not fit.

 Please consult the vehicle type list for the specific "i-size" child restraint system or the vehicle owner's manual. 

5. Difference between Regulation No. 44 and Regulation No. 129

 Use only child restraint systems that are approved according to UN Regulation No. 44 or UN Regulation No. 129 

UNECE and its Inland Transport Committee have always worked hard to ensure that you and those you care about are kept safe on the road. The vehicle regulations developed and administered by the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) encompass everything conceivable about road vehicles, from the quality of the seat belt that you wear to controls on levels of emissions