Children at risk: New research exposes worrying UK child car seat habits

Children at risk: New research exposes worrying UK child car seat habits

 Date: Wednesday 12th March 2025 | Time: 10:00 – 12:00, followed by networking lunch
 Venue: Hampton Manor, Shadowbrook Lane, Hampton-In-Arden, B92 0EN

You are invited to an exclusive event unveiling the findings of a major new study that has exposed alarming gaps in UK child car seat safety – putting young children at unnecessary risk in the event of a crash.

This research, conducted by Axkid among 1,000 parents in the UK and Sweden, has found:

1. Too many UK children are unprotected in cars – A concerning number are not using any car seat at all, leaving them highly vulnerable in a crash.
2. The UK is lagging behind in rear-facing seat use – While the vast majority of Swedish children remain rear-facing until at least four-years-old, only a small proportion of UK children do the same – despite overwhelming safety evidence that rear-facing seats are up to five times safer.
3. A significant gap in safety standards and parental awareness – Four times as many Swedish toddlers travel rear-facing compared to UK children.    
4. We are failing UK parents and children – Lack of clear guidance leaves many UK parents confused about when to move their child to a forward-facing seat or stop using a car seat altogether, putting young lives at risk.  

Please join this event and be among the first to hear the study’s findings, revealing the crucial gaps in awareness that are putting UK children at risk.

Learn about a new campaign launching to educate UK parents and road safety professionals on the life-saving importance of rear-facing car seats until at least four-years-old.

Gain insights from Sweden, a country with a long-standing culture of rear-facing car seat use, and explore what the UK can learn to better protect children on the roads.

Interactive Demonstrations and Exhibits

1. Feel the weight of a child’s head – A small child’s head is disproportionately larger and heavier than an adult’s. Try on a 10kg helmet to understand the immense forces acting on a child’s neck in a collision.
2. See the evolution of child safety – View a vintage 1970s rear-facing car seat and explore how Sweden’s safety culture has evolved since rear-facing seats were first introduced in the 1960s.

RSVP
Please confirm your attendance by March 10, 2025 to rebecca@visionzerocommunications.com

Contact number on the day: 07872 380534 (Rebecca)

We look forward to welcoming you to this vital discussion on child safety in the UK.