Parents face warning over hidden risk of child seats in holiday hire cars as nine out of ten families report dangers but more than half still use them
- Nine out of ten families reported problems including seats that were damaged
- Survey of 1,800 parents found half admitted they’d still used a damaged seat
- Third of parents say they weren’t told by rental company how to fit the seat
- A child car seat that is improperly fitted can pose a lethal risk
Holidaymakers hiring a child seat with their rental car this summer have been urged to take care after research found many of them were dangerous.
Nine out of ten families reported problems including seats that were damaged, the wrong size or did not come with instructions.
But the survey of 1,800 parents by consumer group Which? found that more than half admitted they still used the seat despite the potential danger.
A third of parents said they had not been given instructions by the rental firm on how to fit the seat (stock photo)
A third of parents said they had not been given instructions by the rental firm on how to fit the seat.
Seats that are not properly installed could prove fatal in a crash.
Many car hire companies allow customers to select a car seat for a particular weight or height bracket.
But 23 per cent said they arrived at the rental desk to find they had been given the wrong size.
Using the incorrect size could also put a child’s life at risk.
One in seven said they spotted missing parts or noticed damage to the car seat.