Infographic: What are the current regulations on Child Restraint Systems in European Union countries?
Maybe you want to go to France, but don’t know what the regulations are on Child Restraint Systems. Can you drive with children in front-seat child seats in Germany? From what age should children use CRS in Belgium? We take a look at the regulations in force in the different countries that make up the European Union. Don’t miss this useful infographic for at-a-glance information.
The European Commission’s Directive 2014/37/EU states that children under 150 cm in height traveling in M1, N1, N2 and N3 vehicles fitted with safety devices should be secured by a child restraint system according to their height and volume or weight. In addition, it points out that if they are not equipped with safety devices, children under three years of age will not be able to travel. Children older than three but shorter than 150 cm should occupy any seat apart from the front seat (i.e., they must ride in the back).
In this respect, the devices must be approved in accordance with the rules of UN/ECE Regulation 44/03 or Directive 77/541/EEC or UN/ECE Regulation 129 or any subsequent adaptation.
Finally, the Directive states that child restraint systems must be installed in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
CSR regulations in the EU
In Germany, children under the age of 12 who are shorter than 150 cm must use the relevant child restraint system. In addition, it is recommended that they continue to use this special protection after the age of 12, or if they are shorter than 150 cm, and that under-14s should travel in the back of the vehicle.
In Austria, child seats are mandatory for under-14s and children under 150 cm in height (in a seat suitable for their height and weight), while in Belgium the regulation is that children under 135 cm in height should use a CSR. In Spain, a child seat facing backwards cannot be used in the front passenger seat while the airbag is activated.
In Bulgaria, children under the age of three must use a child seat. Children over three years of age and under 150 cm in height can travel without restrictions, but always in the back seats. However, in Croatia children under 12 must travel in the back seats in a seat suited to their age and weight. Children under the age of two can travel in the front seat in a child seat facing backwards, provided that the airbag is deactivated.
What is the situation in Cyprus? Here, too, children under the age of 12 and shorter than 150 cm must travel in a CSR suited to their size. Children under the age of five cannot travel in the front seats.
In the Czech Republic, children under 36 kg and less than 150 cm in height must travel in a child restraint system suited to their size and weight. If they travel in the front seat, the airbag must be deactivated and the child seat must face backwards.
Children shorter than 135 cm must travel in a child seat in Denmark (suited to their height and weight), while in Estonia the under-12s who are not tall enough to warrant using a seat belt must travel in a child seat adapted to their size. They are not allowed to travel in a child seat in a front seat, even facing backwards, if the airbag is not disconnected.
Finland, the Netherlands and Spain have also established 135 cm as the maximum height for using a child restraint system, depending on height and weight. Under-3s can only travel without a CSR in a taxi.
With regard to France, children up to the age of 10 must travel in a child restraint system suitable for their age and size. Under-10s cannot travel in the front seat unless the back seats are already occupied by children under the age of 10, or if there are no seat belts, or there are no back seats at all in the vehicle. A baby can travel facing backwards in the front passenger seat provided that the airbag is disabled.
If you want to travel in Italy, children under 12 and shorter than 150 cm must be in a CRS suitable for their weight and height. If under-12s are shorter than 150 cm, it is recommended that they continue using these systems.
If you want to travel in the United Kingdom, children under 12 and shorter than 135 cm must use a child restraint system. Children under the age of three must travel in a CRS suited to their weight in all vehicles. By way of exception, they can travel in the back of a taxi secured by a seat belt if there is no CSR available. They can sit in the front facing backwards provided that the airbag has been disabled.
With regard to Greece, as in most other countries in the EU, children under 12 and shorter than 135 cm must use the appropriate CSR. They can only sit in the front seat, with the child seat facing backwards, if the airbag has been disabled.
In Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, children under the age of 12 and shorter than 150 cm must travel in a child seat. In addition, they must travel in the back seat. In Hungary, children under the age of three can travel in a CRS facing backwards in the front seat provided that the airbag has been disabled.
In Ireland, the under-3s can also travel in the front seat, provided their child seat is facing backwards and the airbag has been disabled. Children over 3 years of age and under 150 cm tall must travel in a suitable child restraint system. They can travel in the back seat with a safety belt in the following exceptional situations: in a taxi without a child seat, or when there are already two children in child seats in the back.
The height of 150 cm is also the established height in Latvia and Slovenia, while in Lithuania the regulation is for children under 12 or less than 135 cm in height to use a CRS.
In Luxembourg, children under the age of three must travel in a child seat. In addition, between the ages of 3 and 18, children shorter than 150 cm must use an adapted seat. If they weigh more than 36 kg, children can use the seat belt in the back seat.
In Malta, between the ages of 3 and 10, or if children are shorter than 150 cm, they must use a CRS if traveling in the front seat. In the back, they can use a seat belt if there is no child seat available. Children under the age of three may not travel in the front seat unless they are in an approved CRS and the airbag has been disabled.
In Poland, children under the age of 12 and shorter than 150 cm must use a CRS. If they are under 135 cm in height, they must travel in the back seat. A backwards-facing child seat may not be used in the front seat unless the airbag has been disabled (for children under three years of age ).
In contrast, in Sweden children shorter than 135 cm must travel in a CRS. Children aged over 15 or taller than 135 cm can use a seat belt.
Information was sourced from the AIT/FIA Information Centre (OTA) – 2015, the Automobile Association (AA)-2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other national transport institutions.