Child car seats fail safety tests

Some of the seats were either condemned or unsuitable for the child

Police checks on child car seats in Tayside have revealed that less than a third were fitted correctly.

Officers examined 108 child car seats and found 18% were either inappropriate for the vehicle or damaged to a point that rendered them useless.

More than half of all the seats examined by officers had to be adjusted in order to ensure they gave a child maximum safety.

The tests were done by officers at advice clinics in Perth and Arbroath.

Marian Scott, the force's road safety co-ordinator, said: "Whilst it is heartening that 33 car seats were fitted correctly and appropriate for the child and the vehicle, it was disappointing to find that over half of the seats we were asked to check required some adjustment.

"In one particular case the owner had incorrectly used two seat belts to secure the seat and it was still sliding around, even without the child sitting in it.''

The force insisted the advice clinics were not designed to criticise parents or carers but merely to ensure children had the best possible safety protection.

Mrs Scott added: "We have specifically designated days each month to check car seats and encourage members of the public to contact their Road Safety Officer to get their child seat checked.

"It only takes 10 minutes and will give the peace of mind that their child seat is fitted correctly and offers their child the maximum protection should they be unfortunate to be involved in a collision."

The force said they check car seats for free and do not require a child to be present.