Dragon's Den and New child safety laws...

dolph · 15-09-2006, 11:42 AM

Have been reading about the new laws on child safety seats that are coming out on Monday (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4781511.stm) and was wondering...?

Who saw Dragon's Den this week - one chap (http://www.autosafeproducts.co.uk/introduction.html - he got his money, albeit for 50% of the company) had an idea for reducing the height of the seat belt. This to me appears to achieve the same aim as a booster seat which is part of the law that comes in.

My question is under the new directive is the seat belt height adjuster likely to be seen as legal and a valid substitute for a booster seat because if it is with the right marketing I could see it selling bucketloads. I know for one that at 12 (and a rather short 12 at that..!) I wouldn't have been seen dead in a booster seat (yes I do spot the obvious pun in that)

Any thoughts?

Anyone out there with kids that fall under the new directive have views of what their 10-12 year olds are going to think about booster seats?

GW43 · 15-09-2006, 12:06 PM

I was a bit puzzled by that device.

Apart from it being (seemingly) easy to attach, it does nothing different to devices I've had on the booster seats in my car for years. One attached around the seat belt anchor, and had a padded strap that passed behind the child and then a belt clip to pull the belt down onto the shoulder. The newer one is similar, but the strap is attached to the back of the booster cushion, and thn clips onto the belt. The only problem with these is to grip the belt properly, they do not allow the belt to fully retract when not in use. Minor problem.

I think the Dragons may have been sold a pup on that one. Serves the sanctimonious barstewards right if they have!

dolph · 15-09-2006, 1:07 PM

Was the point not that this didn't need a booster seat necessarily...?

Toasty · 15-09-2006, 1:39 PM

Interesting point, if this device is an alternative to buying a seat for your ten year old to be inline with the new regulations, then it'll be a best seller. But its unclear to me wether it is or not. If it isn't then I agree with GW as the last booster seat I bought had a clip that did a similar job to this device, meaning, why would you buy a booster seat and this new device?

lee789 · 15-09-2006, 1:41 PM

But his demo had the doll/dummy sat on a booster seat ?

This confused me also, as our booster seat has a similar thing attached.

I suspect you're right though Dolph. But I also suspect that you wouldn't get away with this under current law.

dolph · 15-09-2006, 1:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasty

Interesting point, if this device is an alternative to buying a seat for your ten year old to be inline with the new regulations, then it'll be a best seller. But its unclear to me wether it is or not. If it isn't then I agree with GW as the last booster seat I bought had a clip that did a similar job to this device, meaning, why would you buy a booster seat and this new device?

I don't disagree - much of the photography and examples on the site do not show a booster seat though so....

GW43 · 15-09-2006, 1:45 PM

The guy's presentation was so, let's be kind, laid back, that most of the relevant information did not come across.

A booster seat also raises the childs viewpoint so they can see out of the windows, and goes some way to preventing boredom and car sickness. You could save money with these devices, but your car could stink a bit as a result!