New booster seats ban;
The government have recently released plans to be set with more changes to child car seats law on the way. This will include stricter rules regarding the use of booster seats in a vehicle. It also means that there will be a limit on the use of backless booster seats, especially for older children.
The current UK law states that all children travelling in a vehicle must use the correct and specified car seat until the age of 12, or 135cm tall. Across Europe, it is often found that the height is increased to 150cm.
Backless booster seats;
In regards to backless booster seats, current law states that children weighing as little as 15kg are able to travel in a backless booster seats, that is children as young as three years old. It is argued that this kind of booster seat is unsuitable, especially for the safety of young children.
Therefore, under the new rules, the booster seat law states that backless booster seats will only be approved for children taller than 125cm and weighing more than 22kg. This means that small children will be held more securely in a full seat. And also, the adult seat belt will be guided across their bodies in a much more efficient manner. However, the most important improvement for this change is that your child will be protected much more effectively if involved in a crash.
Why high-back booster seats get the thumbs up from us;
Backless booster seats, otherwise known as a booster cushion, are tempting for many parents as they are extremely cheap to buy and they seem to do the job as it is currently legal for children up to 135cm tall to use. However, we do not recommend the use of these booster seats, particularly for the use with young children. This is because they cannot provide a suitable level of safety for your child, especially in the event of a car accident.
High-backed booster seats may be a more expensive option, but they are much more effective as they provide full support for your child. The adult seat belt is able to be secured around your child and provide the upmost support in your vehicle. This therefore increases their safety in the event of an accident.
Do I need to buy a new seat?
The new UK regulations for child car seats are set to be introduced at the end of 2016. The law will be set to apply to any new products appearing on the market, meaning that parents looking to buy a booster seat in the next year will need to check that they are approved for the use with children under 125cm in height and 22kg in weight.
Parents who currently own a booster seat will be able to continue using it without breaking any rules. This means that essentially, you do not need to purchase a new booster seat for your child. However, we do recommend that you follow the new rules to keep your child as safe as possible on UK roads.

Safe driving!
Arrow Driving Academy