Parents issued urgent advice on safest place for children in the car

Children are required to use a child car seatuntil they're 12 years old or reach a height of 135 centimetres.

Those over 12 or taller than 135cm must wear a seat belt. A child aged 3 or older can travel in the back seat without a child car seat and without a seat belt if the vehicledoes not have one.

To correctly utilise a child seat, install the appropriate type of seat for your child's age, height, and weight. The same rules apply for children with disabilities or medical conditions, but they can use a disabled person's seat belt or a child restraint designed for their needs.

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Knowing where to place a baby seat in the caris crucial for the safety of a child. According to the AA, the most common crash involves an impact to the front of a car, meaning that the back seat is usually a "safer place" to travel.

The insurance company adds: "The centre-rear seat is the safest place of all for a properly restrained child, because they're furthest away from any impact and less likely to hit or be hit by deforming, intruding structures."

A child car seat should only be used if your car's seat belt has a diagonal strap, unless the seat is either:

• Specifically designed for use with a lap seat belt
• Fitted using ISOFIX anchor points

Gov.uk guidance states that if you own a child car seat you must also:

• Deactivate any front airbags before fitting a rear-facing baby seat in a front seat
• Not fit a child car seat in side-facing seats

A child aged 3 or older can travel in a back seat without a child car seat and without a seat belt if the vehicle does not have one. In most cases, children under 3 must always be in a child car seat.

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The regulations differ when the child is travelling in a taxi or minicab, coach or van, on an unplanned journey or when there isn't space for an additional car seat, reports the Liverpool Echo. Should the driver fail to supply the appropriate child car seat, youngsters may travel without one - but only if they're seated in the back.

Childcarseats.org has outlined the significance of purchasing a car seat that's appropriate for your youngster. Guidance on its website states: "It is best to take your child and your car with you when choosing your child car seat, and to find a retailer who has staff trained in choosing and fitting child car seats. Try to find a retailer who will help you try the seat in your car before you buy it."

The child car seat you select, must:

• Conform to the United Nations standard, ECE Regulation 44.04 (or R 44.03) or to the new i-size regulation, R129. Look for the 'E' mark label on the seat
• Must be suitable for your child's weight and size
• Must be correctly fitted according to the manufacturer's instructions