Insurance World

September 2006 will see the introduction of new laws regarding child restraints in cars.

Current laws state: -

·
Children aged three to 11 (inclusive) and less than 150cm tall are permitted to travel in an adult seat belt if no child restraint is fitted.

New legislation says: -

·
Children aged three to 11 and under 135cm have to be seated in child seat or booster (designed to be used with an adult belt), suitable for their age and weight.

Children taller than 135cm (4ft 5ins) or aged 12 or over must wear an adult seat belt where one is fitted.

The driver is responsible for ensuring these rules are complied with until the child reaches the age of 14, when they must take responsibility for their own safety.

The Department of Transport believes that, by making sure that children are securely restrained and not allowed to use adult seatbelts until they are sufficiently tall for them to work in the proper manner, 2,000 child injuries and deaths will be prevented.

The penalty for failing to comply with these regulations will be a fixed penalty fine of Ј30 or, if the case proceeds to court, a fine of up to a maximum of Ј500.

Exceptions will be allowed in emergencies, cars without seatbelts, and when children are passengers in taxis.

Information on child-seat safety can be obtained from the Child Accident Prevention Trust, www.capt.org.uk or from the government’s website www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk there’s a question and answer section on government website which is very comprehensive and seems to answer every question you could think of.

There’s a good choice of car seats available, and you should always ensure that they are made to conform to the European Union safety standards. For a young child it’s probably worth investing in a seat that can be adjusted as your child grows.

For an idea of what you’d have to pay for a seat that would take your child from 9 months to 12 years, the Recaro Start seat can be bought for around Ј200.

There’s the Evolva 23 seat, from Britax, which is adjustable and suitable for children weighing from15kg to 36kg and up to 135cm (4ft 5ins). The back of the seat can be extended as the child grows, so that the head is always supported. This costs around Ј65.

For a baby of up to 9 months, or around 13kg, a rear facing approved car seat is acceptable, fitted on either the front passenger seat or in the back of the car. It must no be used in the front if an airbag is fitted.

It’s extremely important that the seat is fitted properly, and many suppliers offer a fitting service. Do remember that it’s important that before you have the seat fitted; make sure it fits your child.

The 18 September is the date that the Department of Transport is aiming for, so remember, after this date you need to comply with the new rules.

These laws are to be taken seriously. Parents and regular carers are not the only ones who need to be “car seat ready”. You may occasionally take your, say 9 year old, grandchild out with you. The big difference there is that, prior to September 18; no special steps had to be taken. After this date you’ll need to equip yourself with a seat or booster.

If you are in the unfortunate position of being involved in an accident, and if your child or children are not travelling in an approved car seat or booster, your insurance may not be willing to pay out, resulting in what could be a considerable personal claim against the driver, whose responsibility it is.

Parents and (even occasional) carers please take note.

Car insurance is an integral part of the insurance budget. There are a lot of variables that cause the rates to increase or decrease. Some of these variables cannot be controlled by the insured but there are some things the insurance buyer can do to keep their policy reasonable without losing a lot in protection.

What Are Your Assets? – Do you own a home? Do you have several vehicles? Do you own a business? Do you rent an apartment? Your strength in assets is a factor when selecting your liability limits. If you accidentally injure or kill someone in an automobile accident and you carry low liability limits on your car policy then your assets are next in line to be used to pay for the damages.

The Age of the Vehicles – Newer vehicles usually require physical damage coverage by the lender. Older vehicles with a lot of miles sometimes do not warrant physical damage. Physical damage rates can be adjusted up or down based on the deductible you choose.

The Age of The Drivers – Adult rates, senior adult rates, and rates for young drivers make a huge difference in the overall rate. Young drivers on vehicles with physical damage coverage can be very costly.

What are the Discounts? – There are a number of discounts on car policies. The multi-policy discount is given by insurance companies for purchasing both auto and home insurance. Retirement discounts are available to the senior adult. Young drivers receive discounts for drivers training education. Some companies give good student discounts for young student drivers that maintain a 3.0 grade point average.

Full Tort or Limited Tort – Many states have a discount for selecting a limited tort option. Tort is your right to sue for pain and suffering damages over and above the basic liability settlement. This varies from state to state.

This is the overall picture what insurance companies use to determine your individual rate. You have a choice when it comes to liability, physical damage, and tort options. Ask plenty of questions about these three areas when purchasing car insurance.