New child safety seat law takes effect November 1: Parents urged to comply or face fines

The Transport Department is urging parents to ensure that any child-restraint device they purchase meets the relevant standards from China, the US, the EU, and Australia.

Starting November 1, children under eight years old must sit in child safety seats or use other restraining devices when traveling in private cars, unless they are 1.35 meters tall.

Eddy Wu Kin-kwok, chief engineer of the Transport Department, said that parents have several options, including adjustable seatbelt devices, wearable safety vests, and foldable booster seats, in addition to traditional child safety seats. However, these devices must comply with safety standards from the aforementioned regions.

Wu said that the 1.35-meter height requirement is based on international practices, ensuring children can rest their feet flat on the car floor and preventing seatbelt “necking.” This height generally aligns with the average height of an 8-year-old in Hong Kong.

He also said that drivers are responsible for using child-restraint devices, even when transporting friends’ children, noting that simple, portable, and affordable options are available. Non-compliance can lead to a fixed penalty of HK$230, with serious cases potentially resulting in fines of up to HK$2,000.

In emergencies, such as when a child is unwell and requires medical attention, not using a restraint device may be justified. 

Regarding the new regulation, which does not cover public transport like taxis and minibusses, Wu said that about half of child injury cases in traffic accidents involve private cars.

He noted that different age groups require various restraint devices, and mandating public transport to implement different systems could pose operational challenges, necessitating further feasibility studies.

(Cheng Wong)