Irish Car Seat Regulations
Irish Car Seat Regulations: The Law
According to AA Motoring Trust, "Ensuring a child is properly restrained in a child car seat can reduce injuries by a factor of 90-95% for rear facing seats and 60% for forward facing seats"
Now it's EU law: All children must travel in a child seat, booster seat or booster cushion.
Rule of thumb: if there's a safety belt, you must use it. It's the drivers' responsibility to be sure their passengers are using seat belts and appropriate child restraints.
Rearward facing baby seat
Weight range: for babies up to 13 kgs (29 lbs)
General age range: from birth to 12-15 months
Seat details: provide protection for baby's head, neck and spine
Forward facing child seat
Weight range: for kids 9-18 kgs (20-40 lbs)
General age range: 9 months - 4 years
Booster seat with back
Weight range: 15-25 kgs (33-55 lbs)
General age range: 4-6 years
Booster Cushion
Weight range: 22-36 kgs (48-79 lbs)
General age range: 6-12 years
Seat details: You must use the seatbelt in conjunction with the booster cushion.
For cars and goods vehicles (including MPV and SUVs):
- Children under 3 can only travel in cars or goods vehicles if there are fitted with the appropriate child restraint. Taxis are exempt from this rule.
- Children between ages 3 and 12 must use an appropriate child restraint in cars or goods vehicles if they are fitted with safety belts. If the car or goods vehicle doesn't have safety belts, they must sit in the back seat.
- In passenger seats with an active airbag, rear-facing child restraints must not be used.
For buses:
- Children between 3 and 12 must use safety belts if they are fitted
- If seatbelts are available, bus drivers are required to tell passengers that it is the law to wear them
The exemptions
- Taxis, hackneys and limousines do not need to have every kind of child restraints available
- A child over 3 can wear a seatbelt in the back seat of a car or a goods vehicle if there is no more room for a child safety seat
- If it is not possible to place your child in the back seat of your vehicle, they can ride in the passenger seat, as long as they are using the appropriate restraints.
Can a child sit in the front seat of a vehicle?
Any child under 150cms or weighing less than 36kg must be restrained in a child restraint which is appropriate for their height and weight. The safest place for a child to sit is in the back seat of the car, in the appropriate child restraint, however this is not always possible. It is safe and legal for a child of any age to sit in the front passenger seat of a car provided they are using the correct child restraint for their height and weight. However, if you are transporting a baby in a rearward facing child restraint in the front passenger seat you should disable the front passenger air bag. Please leave the air bag active for all other child restraints
Irish Car Seat Regulations: The Law
According to AA Motoring Trust, "Ensuring a child is properly restrained in a child car seat can reduce injuries by a factor of 90-95% for rear facing seats and 60% for forward facing seats"
Now it's EU law: All children must travel in a child seat, booster seat or booster cushion.
Rule of thumb: if there's a safety belt, you must use it. It's the drivers' responsibility to be sure their passengers are using seat belts and appropriate child restraints.
Rearward facing baby seat
Weight range: for babies up to 13 kgs (29 lbs)
General age range: from birth to 12-15 months
Seat details: provide protection for baby's head, neck and spine
Forward facing child seat
Weight range: for kids 9-18 kgs (20-40 lbs)
General age range: 9 months - 4 years
Booster seat with back
Weight range: 15-25 kgs (33-55 lbs)
General age range: 4-6 years
Booster Cushion
Weight range: 22-36 kgs (48-79 lbs)
General age range: 6-12 years
Seat details: You must use the seatbelt in conjunction with the booster cushion.
For cars and goods vehicles (including MPV and SUVs):
- Children under 3 can only travel in cars or goods vehicles if there are fitted with the appropriate child restraint. Taxis are exempt from this rule.
- Children between ages 3 and 12 must use an appropriate child restraint in cars or goods vehicles if they are fitted with safety belts. If the car or goods vehicle doesn't have safety belts, they must sit in the back seat.
- In passenger seats with an active airbag, rear-facing child restraints must not be used.
For buses:
- Children between 3 and 12 must use safety belts if they are fitted
- If seatbelts are available, bus drivers are required to tell passengers that it is the law to wear them
The exemptions
- Taxis, hackneys and limousines do not need to have every kind of child restraints available
- A child over 3 can wear a seatbelt in the back seat of a car or a goods vehicle if there is no more room for a child safety seat
- If it is not possible to place your child in the back seat of your vehicle, they can ride in the passenger seat, as long as they are using the appropriate restraints.
Can a child sit in the front seat of a vehicle?
Any child under 150cms or weighing less than 36kg must be restrained in a child restraint which is appropriate for their height and weight. The safest place for a child to sit is in the back seat of the car, in the appropriate child restraint, however this is not always possible. It is safe and legal for a child of any age to sit in the front passenger seat of a car provided they are using the correct child restraint for their height and weight. However, if you are transporting a baby in a rearward facing child restraint in the front passenger seat you should disable the front passenger air bag. Please leave the air bag active for all other child restraints
