Car seats required for kids up to age 12

MANILA, Philippines — Beginning today, children aged 12 years and below will be required to use restraining car seats and prohibited from taking the front seat in private vehicles as part of the implementation of the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act.

Under the Child Car Seat Law signed by President Duterte in February last year, children 12 years and below must use child restraint systems and can be allowed to take the front seat only if they meet the 4’11’’ height requirement on top of using the seat belt.

The law provides fines of up to P5,000 and one year suspension of driver’s license depending on the offense count.

Apprehensions will be deferred today as the information campaign regarding the law is still ongoing, Land Transportation Office (LTO) National Capital Region director Clarence Guinto said yesterday.

Guinto said it is dangerous to put children in a booster seat if they are taller than the average height for their age as they might hit the ceiling of the car.

“Maybe parents should buy bigger vehicles that would fit their kids,” Guinto said in an interview on Teleradyo.

Manufacturers, distributors, importers, retailers and sellers of substandard or expired child car seats and any forgery of certification stickers would be fined P50,000 up to P100,000 for every car seat sold.

Some personnel of the LTO have started training ahead of the enforcement of the law, which covers private motor vehicles.

The law said the Department of Transportation could also recommend the inclusion of public motor vehicles.

“This is for the protection of the children. That’s why we’re seeking the cooperation of the public to follow the law,” Guinto said.

He said the LTO would issue an administrative order to prohibit dark car tints that would make the enforcement of the law difficult.