Make Sure Your Child is a Little Belter

Rochdale Borough Council is giving parents top tips on how to keep their children safe in the car having recently launched the “I’m a Little Belter” campaign to encourage parents to make sure their child’s car seat is fitted correctly.

The casualty reduction team will visit nurseries across the borough to show parents how to best secure their children in their vehicle after statistics showed that 80 per cent of children’s car seats are not fitted correctly.

There were 392 casualties across the borough as a result of car crashes between January and December 2013, the third lowest figure in Greater Manchester.

Councillor Jacqui Beswick, Cabinet Member for Environment at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “It’s encouraging that we have one of the lowest rates of road casualties in Greater Manchester but we need to stay vigilant. A badly fitted car seat can be the difference between life and death, so l would encourage as many parents as possible to come along to one of these events or get in touch with the road safety team.”

The team, who are all qualified car seat fitters, will be visiting the following locations over the coming days to show parents how to make small adjustments which could save their child’s life in the event of a crash:

• Tuesday 22  July – Twinkle Toes Day Nursery, Middleton Technology College, Kenyon Lane, Middleton – 3.30-5.45pm
  
• Wednesday 23 July – Cots and Tots, Shawclough Primary School, Thrum Hall Lane, Rochdale – 7.30–9am
  
• Wednesday 23  July – Clever Clogs, 114 Manchester Old Road, Middleton – 4.30-5.45pm
  
• Thursday 24 July– Cosy Toes, 431 Mainway East, Middleton – 3.30-5.45pm

One key message for parents who can’t attend any of the demonstrations is to make sure they do not use the head restraint in their car to hold their child’s car seat in place.

Anyone who has any doubts about whether they have fitted the seat correctly can also call 01706 924605 or email road.safety@rochdale.gov.uk