In the UK -
Children up to 3 years old
In the Front Seat
The child MUST use the correct child restraint.
It is illegal to carry a child in a rear-facing child seat in the front, which is protected by an active frontal airbag.
In the Rear Seat
The child MUST use the correct child restraint.
In a licensed taxi or licensed hire car, if a child restraint is not available then the child may travel unrestrained in the rear. This is the only exception for children under 3, and has been introduced for practical rather than safety reasons. You should always think about ways to make sure that a child seat is available.
It is the driver's legal responsibility to ensure that the child is correctly restrained.
Children aged 3 and above, until they reach EITHER their 12th birthday OR 135cm in height
In the Front Seat
The child MUST use the correct child restraint.
In the Rear Seat
The child MUST use the correct restraint, where seat belts are fitted.
There are three exceptions where there is not a child seat available. In each case the child MUST use the adult belt instead. They are -
1) in a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle;
2) if the child is travelling on a short distance for reason of unexpected necessity;
3) if there are two occupied child restraints in the rear which prevent the fitment of a third.
In addition, a child 3 and over may travel unrestrained in the rear seat of a vehicle if seat belts are not available.
It is the driver's legal responsibility to ensure that the child is correctly restrained.
Children over 1.35 metres in height, or who are 12 or 13 years old
In the Front Seat
The adult seat belt MUST be worn if available.
In the Rear Seat
The adult seat belt MUST be worn if available.
It is the driver's legal responsibility to ensure that the child is correctly restrained.
Passengers Over 14 years old
When travelling in the front or rear seat, an adult seat belt MUST be worn if available.
It is the responsibility of the individual passenger to ensure that they are wearing the seat belt.
Also -
For babies, and children up to three years
• A baby or child in this age range must not travel in any car or van without the correct child seat for their size/age.
• A rear facing child seat is safest for infants up to 13kg.
• The child seat can be fixed onto the front* or back seat (*you must not place a baby in a rear-facing car seat onto a front seat with an active airbag).
For children from three to 12 years, or when they are 135cm tall, whichever they reach first
• The correct child seat or booster must be used on either the front or back seat
• A child in this age range may use an adult belt only if the correct child seat is not available:
- in a licensed taxi/private hire vehicle
- for a short distance or in an emergency
- where two occupied child or booster seats prevent fitting a third such as in small cars where there are only two adult seat belts in the back. A child aged three and over may travel unrestrained on the back seat of a vehicle only if seat belts are not available.
The Department for Transport says: ‘The best type of child restraint for early childhood is the child safety seat. The integral harness secures the child and spreads the crash forces over a wide area. This seat will last them until either their weight exceeds 18kg or they grow too tall for the height of the adjustable harness.
‘Booster seats are best used only when a child has outgrown a safety seat and are designed for children weighing from 15kg to 25kg. These raise the seating position of the child so that the adult seat belt lies properly across the chest and in particular, low across the pelvis. If the adult belt is too high across the stomach, then in a crash serious internal injury could result, or the child could slip under the seat belt. ‘
Children over 12 years, or more than 135cm tall
An adult seat belt must be worn in the front seat, and the back seat, if available.