Fines for uninstalled child car seats should be much higher

02 November 2011

It is necessary to increase significantly the penalties for transporting children in cars not equipped with car seats. This proposal was made by the president of NGO "Risk Free Road Traffic" Natalia Agre. The leadership of the Russian traffic police supported the initiative.
President of NGO "Risk Free Road Traffic" Natalia Agra came on November 1 took the floor at the press conference "Car Seat to Every Child" that was held in the information agency "RIA Novosti". She proposed raising fines for transporting children in cars not having car seats.
A sharp increase was marked recently in the number of children injured and killed in the motor vehicle accidents. The provision to transport children under 12 year old in special car seats has been effective in Russia for five years. However, often this provision is not observed. According to the Russian opinion polls, 44% of parents of children under 12 do not have car seats and do not even plan to buy them. Little passengers transported inside cars sustain injuries and risk their lives only because of the fault of adults who forgot buckling them up in the car or made a saving not buying a car seat. The statistics shows that in 70% of cases car seat can protect the life of the child or reduce the severity of the consequences in road accidents.
- The fine for failing to use child seats should be compatible with the cost of the car seat amounting to 3 - 5 thousand rubles, - Natalia Agra was saying. - A child should not be riding without a seat. If there is no seat inside the car there should be no ride! This concept should be got across to all Russians, if this idea takes time to settle down the fines should be used to instigate safety road traffic standards and transport children inside car seats on obligatory basis.
The initiative to increase the fine at the territory of country for failing to use the children restraints was supported by the traffic police officers.
- This initiative can be processed either through any legislative body of the Russian Federation or directly through the State Duma or through the Federation Council and we will be definitely supportive, - informed the Head of the Chief Road Safety Directorate in Interior Ministry Victor Nilov. - We will be supportive if as a result of "Car Seat to Every Child" campaign we get confirmation that our citizens believe that this offense should be penalized by higher fines.
The "round table" discussions were held to address the topic of child safety in automobiles. This session was attended by the actress Xenia Alferova. Xenia strongly believes that raising the fine in this case is a forced but necessary measure.
- Our society sticks to the idea that collecting fines is quite similar to squeezing extra monies - said the actress and the mother of two. – Take an example of seat belts: 99% of the drivers began fastening safety belts when the fine for unbuckled ride went up.
Presently the provisions in traffic rules in Russia for transporting children without car seats stipulate paying a nominal fine of only 500 rubles. For example, in America, for the similar offence the driver can pay as much as 15,000 ruble equivalent, in UK - from 1500 to 25,000 rubles. In our country, the fine should be higher as indicated by the polls, the majority of Russians (53%) are of this opinion.
- Because of this strong move as increasing the fine the Government will spur irresponsible parents to purchase restraining harness for their children. In this manner the safety standard will be increased for all children, - summed up Natalia Agre.

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