Buckle me up: Seat belt safety alert for children

It will come as no surprise to parents that children can be over 10 times more distracting to a driver than talking on a mobile at the wheel. A new car accessory called buckle me up aims to reduce this effect by letting drivers know if their young passengers have undone their seat belts.

Buckle me up is designed for children who are in either a booster seat or old enough to sit in the back seat in a standard seat belt. If a passenger unbuckles as you’re driving along, you are alerted immediately via audio and visual alarms.

You can then ensure everyone is safely buckled up before continuing on your journey safe in the knowledge that wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of a fatal injury in a traffic collision by up to 75% for rear seat occupants (World Health Organisation).

You can find out more about the £96 device at bucklemeup.com

https://vimeo.com/117968499

Seat belt safety: Children and the law

There are various rules regarding children and the use of seat belts for safety in vehicles. If the child is under three then the correct child restraint must be used. When a child reaches three, up until they are 12 (or 1.35 metres in height, whichever comes first), the correct child restraint must be used or, if this is not available, an adult seat belt must be used. Children older than 12, must wear an adult seat belt. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that children under 14 are wearing their seat belt or correct restraint.

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