Your child has just started school, and you’re wondering whether it’s still necessary to use a car seat? Maybe all of their friends already ride using only seat belts? The rules for transporting young passengers are clearly defined in road traffic law.
Before you stop using a car seat, make sure you know when a child can legally and safely travel without one — without putting their health or life at risk.
More and more parents are becoming conscious about how they transport their children, and the results are clearly reflected in police statistics. In 2010, 112 children died in road accidents. By 2019, that number dropped by nearly 40%!
That’s why it’s important not to give up the car seat too early. If you’re considering making the switch, first make sure you know exactly when it’s safe and legal for your child to travel using only a seat belt.
Before you stop using a car seat, make sure you know when a child can legally and safely travel without one — without putting their health or life at risk.
More and more parents are becoming conscious about how they transport their children, and the results are clearly reflected in police statistics. In 2010, 112 children died in road accidents. By 2019, that number dropped by nearly 40%!
That’s why it’s important not to give up the car seat too early. If you’re considering making the switch, first make sure you know exactly when it’s safe and legal for your child to travel using only a seat belt.
Regulations regarding transporting a child in a car seat
The Road Traffic Act, Chapter 5, Article 38, paragraph 3, clearly states that in passenger vehicles, every child shorter than 150 cm must be transported in a car seat. This regulation is driven by concern for the child’s health and safety.
Seat belts in cars are designed to protect adults taller than 150 cm. When properly fastened, the harness crosses the hips and shoulder, and in the event of a collision, it locks to prevent the body from moving inside the cabin.
For children under 150 cm, the shoulder belt may rest on the neck, and the lap belt on the abdomen. If an accident occurs, the belt will lock just as it does for an adult — holding the body in place with great force. This can lead to injuries to the head, neck, shoulder, chest, and even crushing of internal abdominal organs. These risks are heightened by the fact that a young child’s musculoskeletal system is still developing and more vulnerable to pressure and damage.
Using a car seat ensures not only the correct positioning of the harness on the child’s body but also side impact protection for the head, significantly reducing the severity of injury in an accident.
Seat belts in cars are designed to protect adults taller than 150 cm. When properly fastened, the harness crosses the hips and shoulder, and in the event of a collision, it locks to prevent the body from moving inside the cabin.
For children under 150 cm, the shoulder belt may rest on the neck, and the lap belt on the abdomen. If an accident occurs, the belt will lock just as it does for an adult — holding the body in place with great force. This can lead to injuries to the head, neck, shoulder, chest, and even crushing of internal abdominal organs. These risks are heightened by the fact that a young child’s musculoskeletal system is still developing and more vulnerable to pressure and damage.
Using a car seat ensures not only the correct positioning of the harness on the child’s body but also side impact protection for the head, significantly reducing the severity of injury in an accident.
When can a child travel without a car seat?
The law allows children to travel without a car seat only in exceptional situations, as outlined below:
The passenger has reached a height of 150 cm.
The child is at least 135 cm tall, but due to their height and weight, it is not possible to provide a properly fitting and safe car seat. In this case, the child may travel without a seat only in the rear of the vehicle.
It is not possible to install 3 child seats in the back seat. The third child, aged over 3, may travel without a car seat, but must sit in the back and be secured with seat belts.
The child is a passenger in a taxi, ambulance, fire truck, police car, Border Guard or municipal police vehicle.
The child has a medical certificate stating contraindications to using a car seat.
Even on short trips, your child should always be safely secured in a car seat.
The passenger has reached a height of 150 cm.
The child is at least 135 cm tall, but due to their height and weight, it is not possible to provide a properly fitting and safe car seat. In this case, the child may travel without a seat only in the rear of the vehicle.
It is not possible to install 3 child seats in the back seat. The third child, aged over 3, may travel without a car seat, but must sit in the back and be secured with seat belts.
The child is a passenger in a taxi, ambulance, fire truck, police car, Border Guard or municipal police vehicle.
The child has a medical certificate stating contraindications to using a car seat.
Even on short trips, your child should always be safely secured in a car seat.
What are the penalties for not using a car seat?
To protect children from irresponsible behavior by adults, penalties have been introduced for transporting minors without a car seat. A driver caught violating this rule may face a fine of 150 PLN and receive 6 penalty points on their license.
Remember — driving without a car seat poses a serious risk. In the event of an accident, a child who is not properly secured has very little chance of survival.
Remember — driving without a car seat poses a serious risk. In the event of an accident, a child who is not properly secured has very little chance of survival.