The seat with anti-abandonment device has now become mandatory by law, only official status is awaited through publication in the Official Journal. But what are the characteristics of these new safety tools for children in the car?
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The seat with anti-abandonment device has now become mandatory by law, only official status is awaited through publication in the Official Journal. But what are the characteristics of these new safety tools for children in the car?
After many discussions and delays, the Minister of Transport has signed the long-awaited decree implementing article 72 of the Highway Code which provides for the obligation to install in cars child seats with anti-abandonment device for children up to 4 years. (Here you can read the decree in full)
But what exactly is it and what characteristics must these tools have to comply with the law?
First of all it is about an alarm device whose function is to warn the driver of the presence of the child in the car once the car is turned off. This is extremely useful in cases where the parent or whoever accompanies the child mistakenly forgets the presence of her, the main function of the new car seats with device is precisely to prevent the abandonment of children from cars.
In the future, all child seats will be sold with an integrated device, but cars could also be equipped with an anti-abandonment tool. In the initial phase of mandatory nature, however, the most likely thing (also to facilitate families who already have car seats) will be to purchase a system independent of the seat itself and the vehicle that can be adapted to the supports in possession.
As stated in the decree, the anti-abandonment device can therefore be:
- integrated at origin in the child restraint system
- a basic equipment or vehicle accessory, included in the approval file of the vehicle itself
- independent from both the child restraint system and the vehicle
Essential technical-constructive and functional characteristics
The characteristics of the device are defined in Annex A of the decree:
- a) the anti-abandonment device must signal the abandonment of a child under the age of 4, on the vehicle on which he is transported, by the driver of the vehicle itself by activating one of the signals referred to in letter d
- b) the device it must be able to activate automatically each time it is used, without further action by the driver
- c) the device must give a confirmation signal to the driver at the moment of activation
- d) in the event that the device detects the need to give an alarm signal, the latter must be able to promptly attract the attention of the driver through appropriate visual and acoustic or visual and haptic cues, perceptible inside or outside the vehicle
- e) the anti-abandonment device must be able to activate the communication system indicated in letter g
- f) if powered by a battery, the device must be able to signal low levels of remaining charge to the driver
- g) anti-abandonment devices can be equipped with an automatic communication system for sending messages or calls by means of wireless mobile communication networks
In short, a device capable of guaranteeing maximum safety for little travelers.
The penalties
Anyone who, once the law comes into force, is found without an anti-abandonment device in the car may incur an administrative sanction that starts from 81 euros and can go up to 326 euros (56,70 for those who pay within 5 days).
The deduction of 5 points of the driving license.
Read also:
- Anti-abandonment car seats: the decree is signed and becomes mandatory for up to 4 years
- Toxic car seats for children: flame retardants fault. All the indicted brands
- Car seats: here are the dangerous ones rejected by Altroconsumo
- Car seats: this is why they should be held against the direction of travel for up to 2 years
