OVER 150 child car seat safety checks were carried out by police in Thornbury in a bid to reassure parents their children are safe and secure.


Officers from South Gloucestershire Council’s road safety team and Avon and Somerset Police joined forces to carry out child car seat safety checks at Thornbury Fire Station in Gloucester Road yesterday.


A total of 157 seats were checked with 96 seats (including booster cushions) found to be correct.


Officers found 18 seats to have major faults and 26 seats with minor faults during the day.


Road safety officer Wendy Dykes said: “Every car seat safety check day we carry out confirms how necessary these events are, as large numbers of drivers we talk to are unsure of the correct fitting for their seat. 


"In the event of a collision a loose harness could cause a child to be ejected from their child seat, so whilst it is classed as a minor fault this could be fatal in the event of a collision.


"Many of the major faults found were due to seats belts requiring re-routing. This means that the seat has been fitted wrongly and the manufacturer’s instructions have not been followed.”


Young people travelling as passengers were also measured to ensure they are the correct height to safely use seatbelts.


Two children were found to have no seats or any type of restraint and were under the legal limit of 135cm.


One child was also found to be incompatible in their seat.