Do I need to restrain my child in the back seat? Rules for transporting children in a car, taking into account age

Before transporting a baby in a car, you need to study the rules and requirements provided by law, and the main thing is that the baby must be in a restraint device. The most popular are various models of car seats. To avoid a fine and for the safety of your child, you should know at what age you need a child car seat and how to use it correctly.

Some amendments are made to traffic regulations almost every year, so drivers are advised to periodically monitor new information so as not to break the law. According to the rules, more stringent requirements are imposed on the transportation of children than on adults traveling in a car. If it is enough for a man or woman to be wearing standard seat belts, and this is mandatory only for passengers riding in the front seat, then children cannot be transported in this way.

The law states that children from birth to twelve years of age can only be transported in a car using a special restraint device.

Most often, by the term “restraint device,” parents mean a special car seat, the model of which takes into account the characteristics of the baby’s age, height and weight. Traffic police officers warn parents that the law establishes a fine for incorrectly transporting a child. How much will you have to pay? For example, if an adult passenger in a car is not wearing a seat belt, the driver will lose 500 rubles. But if the rules for having a small passenger in the car are violated, then the parents or another person driving the car will face a fine of 3 thousand rubles.

Some parents prefer to take the risk and pay the fine, but continue to transport their child without a restraint device. However, experts warn that, first of all, adults put the health and life of their child at risk. After all, even the most experienced drivers are not insured against an accident, sudden braking or a strong impact. Situations on the road can be different, so it's better to be safe.

Necessary nuances: you need to take into account weight and age

Not only the presence of a car seat in the car is decisive for traffic police officers. The restraint device must suit the child according to many criteria. Therefore, parents should clearly know how to choose the right car seat model. To ensure the safety of children, restraints must be designed to limit the child’s mobility during an impact or sudden braking.

It should not fly through the glass or hit.

Taking into account the results of numerous crash tests, car seats are the safest. If they are installed correctly in the car and fit the child’s parameters, such devices can protect the baby from impacts, especially frontal ones.

Models of car seats depending on the weight, height and age of children - table

Experts draw the attention of parents that when choosing a car seat, the main rule is to be guided by the weight of the baby, and not his age.

The fact is that upon impact, the child’s weight increases several times, and if the device model is not designed for such a load, this may increase the risk of injury to the baby. For example, if your baby is one and a half to two years old, but weighs more than 18 kg, it’s time to change the car seat and buy a category 2 model.

Car seats of different categories - photo gallery
A category 0 car seat can only be installed parallel to the rear seat

A group 0+ car seat is a carrier with a handle and is installed on the front or rear seat strictly against the movement of the car. Group 0+/1 is transformed as the child grows up.
Group 1/2 car seats can be installed in front or behind in the direction of travel of the car. Group 2/3 car seats are intended for the older age group (from 15 to 36 kg)

This group is suitable for children weighing from 9 to 36 kg

Drivers should be aware that according to traffic rules, it is allowed to transport children under 12 years of age in the front seat, but only in a car seat. However, if a small passenger is driving in front, the airbag must be turned off and the seat must be moved back as far as possible, so that in the event of an accident the child will not be injured.

Until the child reaches one year of age, the restraint system must be placed in the front seat strictly against the direction of travel.

Is it necessary to put a child under twelve years old in a car seat if the seat is already too small for him in weight and height?

Recently, proposed amendments to the law on the transportation of children under 12 years of age in cars are often discussed among drivers and specialists. In particular, this applies to the use of car seats for children under 7 years of age. After the child turns seven, parents have the right to independently decide whether the child needs a restraint device or whether it is possible to transport him in a car without one.

The experts who proposed such changes motivate their decision by the fact that children of the same age can differ significantly in weight category and height. Sometimes a nine-year-old child is larger than a twelve-year-old and simply does not fit in a car seat.

That is, the new rules provide for avoiding a fine for drivers if a child over seven years old is in the back seat of the car and is wearing standard seat belts. Some experts proposed replacing the age criterion with the baby’s weight and height, but did not come to a decision on how traffic police officers would be able to check these parameters.

However, to date these amendments have not been adopted and the old rules for transporting children in a car apply. Therefore, drivers are advised to carefully monitor changes in legislation to avoid breaking the law. But the question of many parents remains open: how to behave if the child is physically larger than the average weight and height for his age and does not fit in a car seat. The fact is that if a car is stopped by a patrol, then they focus only on the age of the child: he is under 12 years old - he must be in a restraint device. If this rule is not followed, the driver faces a fine of 3 thousand rubles.

Therefore, parents can transport their children using other restraint devices. For example, a frameless car seat or buster. But here there are weight restrictions: the baby should weigh no more than 36 kg. And for a booster, height is also important, which must be at least 120 cm. In this case, traffic police officers will not be able to issue a fine, since the rules for transporting a child will be observed.

Today, special restraint devices for transporting children in the car are not only car seats, but also bussters and FEST belt adapters. There were plans to change the law in 2017 to ban the use of the buster and belt adapter. It was assumed that for children under seven years old only a frame car seat should be used. However, these amendments have not yet been adopted and the new law has not entered into force.

Have there been new amendments to the Russian law on transporting children in a car - video

If you have a car seat, but use it incorrectly, is there a fine and what?

Often parents, even having a car seat, can find themselves in a situation where they cannot avoid a fine. This applies to cases where the restraint device is not used correctly. The fact is that the safe transportation of a child depends not only on the presence of a car seat: the baby must be securely secured in it.

According to the law, the driver is required to pay the fine within sixty days from the date of receipt. He also has ten days in which the driver can appeal this inspector’s decision in court.

Fastening car seats with belts - photo gallery

Category 0+ car seats can be installed both in the rear and front seats of the car, but always only rear-facing. In the car seat, the child is held in place by internal belts. Many people consider it cost-effective to purchase car seats that combine two or even three weight groups at once

How to use other restraints without a child car seat

In many cases, parents prefer to transport their baby in a frame car seat. But according to the law, they can choose other restraint devices:

Safety restraints that can be used to transport a child in a car - photo gallery

Characteristics of restraint devices - table

Some parents believe that babies can be transported in a carrycot or stroller unit. However, this is completely against the law. It is prohibited to transport a baby in a car: the inspector is obliged to issue a fine for non-compliance with traffic rules.

And also in this case, parents expose the health and life of the child to great danger.

Parents are first of all obliged to think about the safety of their baby when traveling in a car; he must be in a car seat or other restraint device. Otherwise, the driver faces a fine of 3 thousand rubles for violating the law. Experts note: according to statistics, a child is more likely to suffer fewer injuries and survive during an accident if he is securely secured in a car seat.

On Wednesday, amendments to the Traffic Rules that regulate the transportation of children came into force.

According to him, the State Traffic Inspectorate notes that the effectiveness of the use of child restraints has been confirmed by numerous studies.

“In particular, such devices can reduce the risk of injury to children under four years of age by 80%, and to children aged five to nine years by 52%,” Kuzin noted.

At the same time, against the backdrop of a general decrease in accidents on Russian roads, the traffic police note that this year the child mortality rate in road accidents has jumped sharply. Thus, in the first half of the year, 182 children died in accidents, which is 23% more than in the same period last year. The number of accidents with serious consequences, as well as children injured, has also increased, albeit not so significantly.

In addition, the traffic police noted that violations by drivers of the rules for transporting child passengers (without seat belts or restraints) over the 6 months of 2017 were recorded in 465 road accidents (+16%), in which 35 (+52.2%) died. children and 546 (+18.7%) were injured.

In total, in the first half of the year, the State Traffic Inspectorate identified 431,583 cases of violation of the requirements for the transportation of child passengers. Over the entire last year, almost 781 thousand violations were identified.

In addition, administrative liability is being introduced for those adults who leave passengers under seven years of age alone in the cabin during parking. Similar cases are regularly recorded in various regions, including when a car is towed to an impound lot.

As Vladimir Kuzin, deputy head of the Russian State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, noted at the same press conference, the new norm is prescribed in paragraph 12.8 of the traffic rules. According to him, the fine for this violation under Part 1 of Art. 12.19 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation will be 500 rubles, and in Moscow and St. Petersburg under Part 5 of Art. 12.19 already 2500 rubles.

Transporting children in a car has always been of interest to motorists, both in terms of the safety of such transportation and in terms of punishment for violating the established rules. In July 2017, amendments to the Road Traffic Rules of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as the Russian Traffic Regulations) came into force and relate to the requirements and rules for transporting children in a car. They were approved by Russian Government Decree No. 761 dated June 28, 2017. Our new article is intended to introduce motorists to new changes to the rules for transporting children in a car in 2017.

Every driver has a responsibility to ensure the safety of his passengers. Especially if there are children in the car. To do this, the driver must be very careful on the road and follow the established traffic rules. According to the Russian Federation Traffic Regulations, when in a car, the driver must perform certain actions aimed at creating safe operating conditions for the car. If hit, it will save human lives.

Children are allowed to be transported only in the passenger compartment of a car or in the cabin of a truck. Transportation in the back or trailer of a vehicle is strictly prohibited. It is important to remember that in a car equipped with seat belts, children under 12 years of age can be transported in the front seat only with the use of a car seat that matches the weight and height of the child being transported.

If your child is under 7 years old, then transporting him in the back seat is only possible using a child car seat.

For older minor passengers, concessions have been made. Children from 7 to 12 years old can ride in the back seat of a car only with a seat belt fastened.

Another of the most important changes in the transportation of children in a car was the prohibition of leaving children under the age of 7 years alone unaccompanied by an elder in a vehicle while parked. According to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, this change will help prevent cases where children remained in danger due to fear, overheating or, conversely, hypothermia.

In cases where the number of children is more than eight people, such transportation is an organized group and is allowed only on a bus. Before traveling, the driver must obtain appropriate permission. In addition, the Russian Traffic Regulations strictly prohibit the transportation of children under 12 years of age in the back seat of a motorcycle.

Expert commentary “New rules for transporting children in cars”

Transporting the youngest passengers by car

Transporting infants in a car has some special features. A special infant carrier is provided for them, installed on the rear row seats. It is secured using standard car seat belts perpendicular to the movement of the vehicle. Inside the cradle, the small passenger is secured using belts that hold the child.

Due to the design features of the restraint device, the child’s position in it is horizontal, which normalizes the baby’s breathing and protects his fragile bones from excessive stress. The car cradle is designed for transporting children up to six months of age. Such a device requires a lot of space, so a car seat can serve as an alternative.

Inside such a chair, the child is additionally held in place by special belts. The seat itself is secured with the included brackets or car seat belts. The level of backrest tilt can be adjusted; it should be within 30-45 degrees. In the event of a frontal collision, the child's protection will be maximum. In this position, the chair perfectly holds the baby's head and minimizes the load on the neck.

Why is a child car seat needed?

In accordance with the changes introduced in the transportation of children in cars, each driver must install a child seat. This need arises from some design features of vehicles. The safety system provided by standard seat belts in any car is effective only for passengers with a height of more than 150 centimeters. When using these types of fasteners on shorter people, the straps will put pressure on their necks.

It is strictly prohibited to carry small children in your arms. A collision, even at low speed, can increase the weight of a child tens of times, and it will be very problematic to restrain him. This means that the little passenger is in extreme danger. The twelve-year age specified in all requirements for the transportation of children was chosen for the reason that it is by this age that children grow to 150 centimeters. If you are taller, you are allowed to use standard car seat belts.

Infographic “How to choose a child car seat?”

Where should a child car seat be installed?

The child's car seat can be installed either in the back or in the front seat. The adopted changes in the transportation of children in a car do not prohibit this. However, a prerequisite is to turn off the airbag, since if activated, it can cause irreparable harm to the child. If a passenger who has reached the age of twelve is carried in the front seat, then the airbag must be active. The main element of protection here is seat belts. The best place for a child car seat is in the center rear seat. Statistics show that it is the safest, so it is perfect for transporting children.

Do you support increased control over the transportation of children in cars?

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Administrative fine for violators of rules for transporting children

Violation of changes in the transportation of children in a car, established by the new edition of the Russian Federation Traffic Regulations, entails the imposition of an administrative penalty:

• the driver is issued a fine in the amount of 3,000 rubles;
• officials must pay 25,000 rubles;
• legal entities – 100,000 rubles.

Drivers who leave small children in a car while parked without adult supervision may be subject to an administrative fine of 500 rubles.

The full text of Russian Government Decree No. 761 dated June 28, 2017 on amending the rules for transporting children in a car can be found on our website by downloading it from the link below:

All transportation of small children who cannot yet walk, as well as older children, must be carried out on the basis of certain rules. This is not only the provision of a seat for a child in the vehicle, but also careful monitoring of the behavior of children.

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In addition, the correct approach to organizing the transportation of children in a particular vehicle will not distract the driver from the road itself and traffic rules.

All issues related to this topic are regulated by certain regulations of legislative acts and traffic rules approved by law.

What the law says

All regulatory and legislative acts that monitor compliance with the legal requirements for the safe transportation of children and the maximum possible exclusion of causing road accidents can be reduced to a certain small list.

It includes the following provisions, which should be adhered to by all parents, guardians or persons responsible for the safety of children:

1. – rules for the safe transportation of a child (children) under 12 years of age.
2. , which came into force on 01/01/07 and is used to this day, reveals the concept and details of the so-called “restraint device”, which is specially designed to secure children while driving.
3. and regulate, as a supplement, what parts should be equipped with a seat for a child in a vehicle.
4. – the measure of liability for the absence of a specially equipped restraint device for transporting a child is a fine of 3000 rubles.

The age of twelve for a passenger who requires additional care for safety purposes inside the car when moving vehicles was chosen for the reason that it is by this age that people reach a height of 150 centimeters.

The developed technology for using security systems inside car interiors provides additional equipment for those passengers who are less than 150 centimeters tall.

This is due to the fact that if you try to use the standard seat belt system that is provided in the car, such belts will simply squeeze the necks of small passengers.

And due to the small volume of the body of babies under 1 year old, such belts will not be able to properly hold them, and the child may simply slip out of the seat.

Rules for transporting children under 1 year of age in a car

Transporting children in a passenger car is determined not only by the requirements for the proper arrangement of children's seats in the car, but also by the implementation and observance of a number of rules.

Some of them may seem strange to some, but these standards and requirements exist for a reason. Either there were similar precedents, or the law simply warns not to use prohibited methods of transporting children.

These rules include the following:

1. Children should not be transported on the back of a motorcycle, in the back of a truck, or in a car trailer.
2. Children can ride with adults in the driver's cab of a truck, as well as in a passenger car.
3. Carrying a child under 12 years of age in the front seat of a passenger vehicle is permitted.
4. Children of any age under 12 years of age must travel in a car exclusively in a car seat, a car seat (for the smallest) or using a booster pillow or triangle adapter (for slightly older children).
5. It is prohibited to carry children under 1 year of age in a car. Remember that when a car collides, the child’s weight increases several dozen times due to the impact load! Therefore, it will be unlikely to hold it in your hands.
6. If it is necessary to transport more than 8 children, then a passenger car is not suitable; this should be done according to the rules only using a bus with separately equipped seats for each child.
7. If a child is carried in the front seat, a triangle adapter or booster cushion is not suitable for maximum protection against impacts or vibrations. The child should only be placed in a car seat or a special cradle.
8. Placing small children in the rear seats also requires the pre-installation of a child seat or carrycot.
9. The car seat in the rear seat should be installed strictly perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle and secured with standard seat belts, which are provided by the manufacturer in the vehicle interior.
10. Inside the car seat, the baby should be positioned horizontally, and his body should be carefully fastened with restraint straps, which are provided by the manufacturer of the car seat or car seat. In this case, the child’s breathing should not be constrained, and the arms and legs should not be crushed.
11. The recommended car seat angle for a child over 6 months should be no more than 45 degrees. The angle range can vary between 30 and 45 degrees.
12. The chair should hold the baby's head well so that the load on the child's fragile bones is removed as much as possible. To do this, use special soft rollers on the sides of the child’s face.
13. When transporting a child in a car seat or in a car seat in the front seat, the airbag must be turned off. It could harm a child if it goes off during a collision.

According to statistics, the safest place in a car is the center of the back seat. It is at this point that a child seat should be installed for the ideal location of the child in the car.

Adaptations

The legal side of the issue is covered in the Road Traffic Rules (TRAF), Article 22.9, which talks about the requirements for equipping seats for children in cars that should be implemented for transporting children under 12 years of age.

Of course, the age limit in question in Article 22.9 of the Rules also includes children who have not yet turned one year old. So, in order to be able to safely transport your baby in a car, you will need to acquire a seat, which must necessarily meet standard standards.

Such a standard, for example, for a “restraining device” in the Russian Federation today is. For children under 1 year old, use a chair of group “0” or “0+” with a child weighing up to 10 or 13 kg.

However, the standard contains parameters for seats or belt systems also for children over one year old. Therefore, transporting children under 1 year of age in a car, the Traffic Regulations provides its own templates for infant carriers or mobile car seats with a reclining backrest and proper fixation in the seat of the car interior.

The presence of devices in accordance with GOST SDA is only recommended, but not obligatory. Each parent can come up with their own device that would hold the child while the car is moving, making sudden stops and, at worst, during accidents.

These can be special seat belts, which are much wider and softer than standard belts and must pass through the child’s stomach when fastened.

Restraint devices are seat belt systems that hold a child in a sitting position and can be either part of a child car seat or part of a factory seat in the car itself.

Newborns or older children under 12 months of age are not suitable for such devices if they are attached to a car seat.

But they can be used in a child car seat or infant carrier. For newborns (up to 6 months), it will not be possible to use a car seat, because he cannot sit yet.

For such small children, infant carriers are used, where the child can calmly lie down and at the same time be securely fastened with strong but soft safety straps.

If the child is already 10-11 months old, then he may well be sitting. Therefore, for older children, but under one year of age, car seats are used that can be fixed in a sitting or reclining position.

Almost all of these chairs are removable, and therefore you don’t even have to take the child out of it and carry him home right in it.

The seat itself must have working mechanisms that fasten it to the car's seat belts or in another way - for example, with special brackets that are attached to the car seat. But it should not dangle, but should be securely attached to the inside of the car.

You should also not buy a seat, so to speak, “for growth,” because the restraint device will not be able to fasten tightly enough through the child’s stomach to the seat belt panel.

Responsibility for violating the rules

Previously, if small children under 12 years of age were transported incorrectly, traffic police officers issued a fine to the violator in the amount 500 rubles. This rule was in effect back in 2013.

But today this level of sanctions is provided for the incorrect transportation of adults in a car. And in order for the violator to bear responsibility for violating the transportation of small children, a fine of 3000 rubles.

The same punishment awaits in cases where special rules were not followed, for example, when children under 1 year of age were transported in a car after surgery.

For postoperative children, special equipment is required, depending on the recommendations of the attending physician and the nature of the disease.

It should also be separately emphasized that a violation is considered not only the absence of a seat or specialized equipment, but also its incorrect installation in the car. Thus, it is prohibited to transport babies under 1 year of age in the direction of travel of the car, therefore.

If the seat is installed in the direction of movement of the car, this will be regarded as a violation, for which a fine of 3,000 rubles is imposed.

If you fasten the seat belts incorrectly, and in such a way that they get tangled and the child is squeezed, then this will also be considered a violation.

When using a homemade child seat and seat belts in it, all technical features and standards must be observed and met.

A car seat or infant carrier must comply with general principles, so when creating such equipment with your own hands, you need to focus on GOST R 41.44-2005.

According to official statistics, the number of road accidents has decreased slightly in recent years, but remains at a fairly high level. Unfortunately, children are often the injured party in road accidents. Therefore, from July 12, 2017, the rules for transporting children in a car were tightened; they are also relevant for 2020.

Main innovations

The main regulatory act, Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 761, approved important innovations in clause 22.9 of the traffic rules regarding the transportation of a child under 12 years of age. In the table you can track changes that have occurred in the Legislation.

The ban on transporting a small child in the arms of an adult has remained unchanged. Children under 12 years of age are prohibited from riding on the back seat of a motorcycle. It is also prohibited to transport minor passengers in a trailer/body.

Child restraint system (CHR) is a special-purpose structure, which includes the following components (GOST R 41.44-2005): elastic elements with buckles (straps), adjusting devices, fastening parts. The main requirement for child restraint systems is: in the event of sudden braking or a road accident, the risk of injury to the child must be extremely reduced, and his mobility must be limited.

For the use of an uncertified device, its incorrect installation, or transporting a child without a seat, penalties are provided: for a driver - 3 thousand rubles, for an official - 25 thousand rubles, for a legal organization - 100 thousand rubles (Article 12.23 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

At what age can you drive without a child seat?

In clause 22.9 of the PPD it is clearly stated that the seat is no longer relevant for a child from 7 years old when sitting in the back seat. A standard seat belt is quite suitable for the trip. However, if we are talking about the front seat of a passenger vehicle, the presence of a car seat is mandatory. This requirement applies to all children under 12 years of age.

Regardless of the type of child car seat, the most important requirement applies to it: it matches the weight and age of the child passenger. Comprehensive information is contained in its instructions. For example, if you decide to transport a baby in a restraint device for a child over 13 kg, this will entail an offense with a fine.

Transportation of the little ones

Many car enthusiasts are interested in the following nuances: how to properly transport a newborn in a car and at what age the use of a booster is allowed. There are specific types of car seats for children of different ages. Below is their classification:

Best suited for transporting an infant in a car infant carrier which is securely strapped to the rear seat. The baby feels comfortable in it and there are no spinal deformities. However, this device will take up a large area in your vehicle.

A universal one is suitable as a replacement. car seat. Its use is allowed from the first days of a child’s life. The backrest angle is 45°, which eliminates heavy load. According to experts, the best and safest place to install a car seat is in the rear center seat.

Booster is a rigid seat with supports. The back is missing. According to the rules for transporting children in a car for 2020 in Russia, it is strictly prohibited to use such a child restraint system for children under 7 years of age. It is advisable to transport older children on boosters made in accordance with GOST 41.44-2005. A special sticker must contain information about the manufacturer. In most cases, such a device is used as a cushion in tandem with standard seat belts in order to facilitate their fastening. If the child is short, the belt may move around the neck. If the machine stops abruptly, injury may occur.

Installation ISOFIX systems (Isofix) is extremely simple and does not require the presence of car seat belts. It is manufactured in accordance with Technical Regulations CU 018/2011 and meets all safety standards. The process of securing a child is significantly simplified: twisting and tangling of the belts is eliminated, and there are no difficulties with uniform tension.

Is it possible to leave a child in the car?

It is unacceptable for a child under 7 years of age to be in a car without adult supervision while parked (Section 12.8 of the Traffic Regulations). This measure was introduced due to the fact that children were increasingly left in vehicles for a very significant period of time. In addition, it happened that a car with a child inside was delivered to a impound lot. Such a violation entails an oral warning (conversation) or penalties in the amount of 500 rubles (clause 12.19 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation). However, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, the guilty person is charged with a fine of 2.5 thousand rubles.

The restriction in clause 12.8 of the traffic rules applies only to the period of parking, so a child can be alone in the car if the stop does not exceed 5 minutes.

• If a child 7-11 years old is in a car seat in the front seat, then the airbag must be turned off. As the experience of road accident experts shows, a sudden ejection of a child can cause significant damage to a child in comparison with the likely injury from a road accident.
• Current regulations allow a child aged 7-11 years to be transported in the back seat wearing a seat belt. However, if an unplanned situation or accident occurs, the likelihood of injury increases significantly compared to children who travel with a car seat.
• When installing a child restraint system, you should understand that the safest area in a car dealership is the central rear seat, and the most dangerous is the front seat. The design of the vehicle also needs to be taken into account.