Doctors at Starship hospital, which is the Auckland children’s hospital, say that adult seat belts are not right for children. If a young child is not in a booster seat, the seat belt can cause serious injuries to the head, neck, spine or stomach.

　　The law requires young children to stay in a child seat until the age of 4 or 14kg. It has to be attached to the seat, usually by a bolt behind the back seat. It has a harness over each shoulder, a strap between the legs and around the waist, and a buckle in front which the child cannot undo. After the age of 4, they can use a booster seat.

　　Doctors and Plunket believe that children are safer in a booster seat until they are 148cm tall and for many children, this is between the age of 9 and 12.

　　A booster seat is much cheaper than a child’s car seat and it is easy to take in and out of the car. However, it takes up space on the back seat of the car and this can be a problem for big families.

　　Vocabulary

　　up to the age of 7 – before they are 7

　　boost (v) – increase; booster (adj, n) a booster seat increases the child’s height on the seat

　　compulsory (adj) – you must do this (opposite: optional)

　　spine (n)– back bone

　　requires (v) – says you must do this

　　harness (n) – straps over the shoulders and buckled around the waist

　　undo (v) – open (opposite: do up)

　　Question

　　Do you know what the child car seat law is in your country?

　　Why does the law give a weight or age instead of a height? Is this sensible?