The Road Safety Authority’s Check It Fits service is returning to Dublin this month, offering parents the chance to have their child’s car seat assessed and correctly fitted free of charge. The visit comes as new figures reveal that 54% of child car seats checked nationwide were found to be incorrectly installed, with almost a third of those requiring major adjustments to make them safe.
According to the RSA, incorrect fitting remains one of the most common risks to child passengers, and even small errors can have serious consequences. If a car seat isn’t fitted properly, it can lead to serious or even fatal injuries in the event of a collision. The organisation is now urging parents to take advantage of the upcoming Dublin visit, which takes place on 25 and 26 November.
Although car seats might appear straightforward, the RSA says that many common mistakes go unnoticed, and most parents are unaware that anything is wrong. The Check It Fits service was created to address this gap in knowledge, offering hands-on support and guidance from trained experts.
Ron Richardson, Lead Checker for the RSA, said:
“While the RSA’s experience with its Check it Fits service shows that half of child car seats are fitted incorrectly, worryingly, it found that 30% of these needed a major adjustment to fix them. For example, the seat being excessively loose so as to make the fitting almost ineffective. 67% were minor adjustments, for example, the fitting being loose or a twisted seatbelt. Having a correctly fitted car seat is a simple measure parents, grandparents and guardians can take to ensure children are safe while travelling by car. I would encourage people to visit the Check it Fits service when it comes to Dublin and give yourself the peace of mind that your children are travelling safely.”
The free service takes around 10 to 15 minutes and runs from 10am to 5.30pm each day. No appointment is needed, and families can simply walk in to have their seat checked, adjusted, and properly secured by RSA experts. Staff will also demonstrate the correct fitting technique and answer any questions to help prevent issues in the future.
The RSA is reminding parents that car seat fittings should be checked every time a child travels, especially as the weather changes. For example, children wearing thicker winter clothing may require the harness to be loosened or refitted to maintain safety standards.
