RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
June 13, 2003
CLINICS AND “GOOD EGGS” PROTECT SCOTLAND’S CHILDREN
Scottish safety campaigners and retailers launched a new initiative today to reduce the number of children killed or injured in cars.
RoSPA, the Scottish Road Safety Campaign, the Arnold Clark Group, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and road safety units across the country are joining forces to highlight the importance of children being safely restrained when travelling.
They will also champion Scottish child car seat retailers who meet the highest standards when giving safety advice to customers.
A similar campaign last year saw child passenger casualties fall by a third in one Scottish police force area.
Many Scottish parents have complained that they have not been given enough information when buying a car seat to ensure the safety of their child.
Around 40 car seat clinics will be held across Scotland over the next four weeks where parents can have their child car seats checked and seek advice if they have any concerns.
Retailers who meet a list of safety criteria will be able to sign up to the “Good Egg Charter”. Their customers will be guaranteed: being dealt with by a trained member of staff; having the weight and height of their child checked so they are certain the seat is right for their child; having the seat checked to be sure it fits their car; and that, as the buyer, they understand how to fit it correctly.
Members of the “Good Egg” scheme will display the campaign logo. “Good Egg Guides”, covering all aspects of in-car safety, can be obtained free-of-charge by ringing 0845 055 1522. The campaign website is www. protectchild.co.uk
Mike McDonnell, RoSPA’s Road Safety Manager in Scotland, said: “We aim to check around 2,000 seats during the four-week campaign. We usually find that about 70 per cent of child car seats are fitted incorrectly. If retailers gave better advice, a lot of the problems could be solved. Details of where the clinics are being held can be found by visiting the campaign website at www.protectchild.co.uk .”
Last year almost 1,000 children under the age of 16 were injured in cars in Scotland.
