Unfortunatley like many things, the police do not care. I frequently see babies sitting on someone's lap in the front seat of the car.
My feeling is this, if your child is old enough to be out of a car seat in the US (I mean not only big enough but by law old enough) then you shouldn't worry here. But remember that people here drive differently and accidents are normally not fender benders (we have less reported accidents but of those reported more fatalities).
Smitty, since we have exchanged our plans of traveling with young ones via e-mail, I feel that we are fast friends now. Anyway, we have arranged for booster seats with Auto-Europe for both Spain and Italy. It is included on our confirmation and I have been assured they will be there. Somehow, though, I am still apprehensive about it. You might want to call your agency to see if they offer them.
If your daughter is less than 6 yrs old and 60lbs, I would give serious consideration to getting a booster for the trip. I know someone who almost lost their daughter in a minor fender bender due to internal bleeding from a lacerated liver that was caused by the seat belt. Various states across the country are now coming to the realization that adult seat belts can cause serious harm to young children who are not "boosted" into a safe position, and so the laws pertaining to child restraints are being changed from the standard of 4 yrs and 40 lbs to 6 yrs and 60 lbs. I am personally a bit apprehensive about driving in Italy with our precious cargo of two toddlers because I know how easy it is to get distracted by trying to navigate unfamiliar roads while taking in all of the sights and reaching back to find a lost sippy cup and responding to the inevitable "can we have some more gelato now?" for the umpteenth time! :-)
Here are the factors to consider when deciding if your child is ready for the adult belts:
When your child is big enough so the shoulder belt can lie across the middle of the shoulder and chest, not anywhere near the neck. When your child can sit all the way back and your child's knees bend easily over the edge, without any slumping. The lap belt must be low and flat across the lower hips / upper thighs, not the stomach. Your child is responsible enough to not unbuckle the belt, or move around.
Car seat belts are designed to properly restrain adults. A booster isn't a big deal to ask for, and I'm sure will make you more comfortable. If only a lap belt is available, make sure it is worn tight and low on the hips, not across the stomach.
Amy in MA "Every adult needs a child to teach, it's the way adults learn." - Frank A. Clark
Posts: 8838 | Location: Newton (outside Boston), MA | Registered: 17 June 2001
One other thought about the value of booster seats beyond the heavy duty reason of safety is that the kids can see better when sitting a little higher. This keeps them a little more interested in what's outside those windows and maybe a little quieter (some of the time). More importantly, it allows them to begin to absorb where they are, recognize differences and develop curiosity, etc.
While I must admit that sometimes police seems not to care much about it, the rules in Italy are really strict on child seats and it's not difficult, especially in cities, to get heavily fined if you don't comply to the rules. Apart from a safety issue, you should always try and protect them as much as possible, I would advice you to follow the rules with great attention. A kid has always to sit on a special seat up till he's 6 years old. Then he always needs to seat down in the back up until he's ten (but I'm not really sure if it's ten, eleven or twelve!). Rear safety belts are now compulsury for everyone.
quote:Originally posted by ako: Rear safety belts are now compulsury for everyone.
Afaik, it is compulsory to have them mounted, while it is not compulsory (yet) to buckle them.
Alice Twain --
Sciur capitan, questa che l’è la verità, adess ghe n’hoo piee i ball, Giovanni el turna a cà. Se te voret scriv te regali la mia pena, se te voret sparam questa l’è la mia schena.
Mr capitain, this is the truth Now I am sick of it, Giovanni goes back home If you want to write to me, I’ll give you my pencil If you want to shoot me, here’s my back.
I hope Auto Europe does have the booster seat for you. When we took our two little girls to Italy in Nov. 2001, we requested a booster seat for our 4 year old from Hertz and was assured that one was available. When we picked up the car at the Venice airport, an infant car seat was in the car. We brought it to the agent and showed him our reservation for a booster. He had no idea what a booster was. He took off the charge for the rental of the infant seat but my daughter had no booster for the entire trip.
Posts: 402 | Location: Somers, WI | Registered: 24 June 2002
I'm not too sure you're right Alice. The new "codice della strada" should have been issued already. From this site it looks that now it is really compulsory for passengers in the rear seat to wear them (even if we perfectly know that noone follows this particular rule), at least for M1 vehicles (and those should be normal cars).
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