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Children are particularly at risk in the event of a car accident. Even following seemingly innocuous shocks their spinal cords and their still fragile skulls can be damaged. This is because even at 30 km/h an unsecured child is propelled like a projectile towards the front of the vehicle if there is an accident. So, nothing beats prevention.
In Luxembourg, as soon as they leave the maternity ward and until they reach a height of 1.50m, your children must sit in a safety device when travelling by car: a rear-facing seat, a standard child seat or a booster seat for taller children. This equipment must meet one or other of the two EU standards in force:
Under 3 years old, no exception to the rule is allowed.
Between the ages of 3 and 17, in certain situations, your children may exceptionally travel without a restraint:
In these exceptional situations, children can sit in the rear seats and must wear a seat belt.
Luxembourg law provides for a fine of €145 and the withdrawal of 2 points from your licence if you transport a child under 1.50 m without a specialised approved restraint device.
The standard ECE-R44 entered into force in 1982. It relates more broadly to car seats which are attached using a seat belt and more rarely by Isofix. The seats are classified by group (0, 1, 2, etc.) according to the weight of the child.
Since 2013, you also have the choice to opt for a car seat that meets the standard ECE R129 (i-Size). Why a new standard? Because it goes further in terms of safety. The system uses Isofix attachments which fit directly onto the vehicle chassis via integrated rigid fasteners. This allows better support for the seat in the event of an impact.
Another advance is that this standard provides for the child to be placed facing the rear of the car until at least the age of 15 months. This position is recommended as long as possible to preserve small children’s fragile necks.
The I-Size standard also provides other classification criteria for car seats. You now choose a restraint based on the child’s height and no longer on their weight.
The final advantage is that the seat belt is no longer used for attachment, so you are much less likely to get it wrong. This is a good thing when a recent study conducted by Bébé Confort and Prévention Routière showed that 75% of baby seats secured with a belt are not properly attached!*
i-Size R129 is therefore the best choice in terms of safety. But be careful before deciding on a car seat that meets this standard. Do check that your vehicle has the necessary attachments and space to accommodate an i-Size type car seat. Only a full-scale test with your vehicle can assure you 100%. On the price side, i-Size equipment is more expensive with prices starting around €400.
There are three main categories of restraint systems, depending on the size and weight of the child:
Make sure you change your child’s seat regularly to keep up with your child’s growth.
Facing the road, in the front, in the back... Many people wonder what the safest place is for your children in the car. We interviewed the head of AXA’s Accident Research and Prevention department to give some clarity.
If you come from Belgium or France, the limit below which a car seat is compulsory differs a little. It is set at 135 cm in Belgium and 10 years for France. As for Germany, the rule is the same as for Luxembourg: a car seat is compulsory for children under 150 cm.
Car accidents remain the leading cause of death for children under 10.So, even for short trips, always check that the seat is correctly fastened and the seat belt is correctly positioned.