Do you have or travel with children under 12 years old? The Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP) has an important road safety message for you.
The police urge everyone to “drive safely” and emphasize the need to use safety devices correctly, mentioning specifically “seat belts, car seats, and helmets”.
For those “with children under 12 years of age”, there are specific recommendations that must be followed.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Always use an approved child seat (restraint system) suitable for the child’s weight and height;
- Carefully read installation and usage instructions to ensure it is properly installed;
- Ensure the child seat is firmly attached to the vehicle’s structure using the seatbelt at three points or an ISOFIX system;
- Always ensure that the child seat harnesses are correctly tightened, leaving no slack.
The PSP further emphasizes, “If possible, choose to purchase a new car seat rather than a used one to prevent safety issues due to wear or previous accidents.”
