Sainsbury's Car Insurance Issues Warning On Dangers Of Second-Hand Child Car Seats

    LONDON, ENGLAND, August 06, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Sainsbury's Car Insurance is urging parents not to buy second-hand child car seats because it is impossible to know if they are safe or whether they have been damaged in an accident.
Its research(2) reveals that some 713,000 child car seats (around 14 per cent) currently in use are given by a friend or family member or even bought second-hand and that around a quarter of a million (5 per cent) may need replacing because they have been involved in an accident or minor bump. Recent analysis of the online auction site, Ebay, confirms that trading in second-hand car seats is a reality, with some 131 "used" child car seats for sale on the website.
Sainsbury's Car Insurance offers new-for-old replacement seats after an accident as a standard feature of its policy, even when there is no perceived damage.

Lucy Hunter, Sainsbury's Car Insurance Manager said: "If a child car seat has already been involved in an accident, it's extremely difficult to know if it is still functioning properly and that it doesn't have any hidden faults. This means that if you already know that the seat has prevented a child from being injured or if you have bought it second hand and therefore can't be sure of its history, you could be strapping your child into a seat that provides little or no protection.
"Even if a child car seat is a present from friends or family, as is the case with around 669,000 (13 per cent) child car seats, unless they are brand new as opposed to hand-me-downs, you cannot be 100 per cent sure of their safety."

In addition to the importance of using a brand new child car seat, Sainsbury's Car Insurance also warns that parents should make sure that they choose one that is compatible with their car and ensure that it is fitted correctly. Some two-thirds of child car seats are not fitted correctly(3).

Sainsbury's Car Insurance offers parents the following advice when buying and installing child seats:

• Do not buy second-hand car seats
• Do not accept used seats from friends or family
• Always buy the right car seat for your child's weight and physical development
• Check that the seat has an 'E' mark which means that it has been fully checked and meets the United Nations Regulation R44.03.
• Replace the seat accordingly as the child grows
• Before every journey, check that the seat is securely fixed
• Make sure the harness is firm. You should only be able to get one or two fingers between the strap and the child's chest
• Never modify a child car seat in any way.
• If anyone else is driving your child, make sure that they know how to fit the seat and check it is still functioning properly

Sainsbury's Car Insurance's child car seat cover is only one of many benefits available through the Bank's car insurance policy. In addition, Sainsbury's Car Insurance also offers motorists an extensive range of cover and benefits. This includes a courtesy car when using one of its recommended repairers (comprehensive cover only) and a no claim discount of 70% if you take out a policy and have not made a claim in the past five years, rising to 75% after a further five years' claim free driving with Sainsbury's Car Insurance. It is also one of only a few providers to offer new-for-old replacement child car seats after an accident as a standard feature of its comprehensive policy, even when there is no perceived damage, as well as support and compensation if you're a victim of car jacking or road rage(4).

Sainsbury's provide a wide range of financial services including loans, life insurance, pet insurance & home insurance, visit www.sainsburysbank.co.uk now to find out more

For further information, please contact:
Phil Anderson / Sarah Rowan
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
020 7638 9571

Notes to editors:
Sainsbury's car insurance is arranged and administered by esure Services Limited. Registered in England No.2135610 at The Observatory, Reigate RH2 0SG. Not available in Northern Ireland or the Channel Islands or for drivers over 80 and subject to normal acceptance criteria. Like all insurers there may be circumstances where we are unable to provide a quote. Calls may be monitored and recorded.

(1) Analysis of ebay.co.uk website - searching for "used" car seats on 29th June 2009.
(2) The consumer omnibus research of 2036 GB adults aged 18 or over was carried out online by ICM between 10th - 12th July 2009. ICM uses a large sample size that reflects the demographic profile of GB. Given this it is possible to extrapolate figures and make projections from the research results within appropriate confidence intervals. So 5% of the GB adult population of 45.89 million is 2.3m. Figures are estimates.
(3) Statistic based on results from the Walsall Trading Standard and Road Safety unit who checked 216 child seats over 4 days and found that only 32.5% were fitted correctly (Aug/Sept 2008)
(4) Terms and conditions apply.

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