The RSA Check it Fits service will be conducting car seat checks to ensure they are fitted correctly on July 4th and 5th in Tramore.
The service aims to save lives and prevent injury by ensuring that children's car seats are properly in place.
It will give parents and guardians reassurance that their child is safe while travelling in the car.
This comes after the RSA found that four out of five car seats are not fitted correctly.
30% of seats need a major adjustment in order for them to be considered safe. Examples of adjustments include the seat being too loose and the seatbelt being twisted.
Car seats may seem simple to install, but it is also simple to get wrong.
"Having a correctly fitted car seat is a simple measure parents, grandparents and guardians can take to ensure children are safe while travelling by car. I would encourage people to visit the Check it Fits service when it comes and give yourself the peace of mind that your children are travelling safely," Aisling Sloyan, Senior Road Safety Promotion Officer for the RSA, said.
If your child’s car seat or restraint is incorrectly fitted, the Check it Fits experts will advise on how to fix the problem, demonstrate how to fit it correctly, and answer any queries participants might have to avoid potential serious or fatal injury in the event of a collision.
The checks will be taking place in Quish's SuperValu on the fourth and at Mum n Me on the fifth. Both will run from 10am to 5:30.
It will take between 10 - 15 minutes, requires no booking, and is free of charge.
RSA car seat advice
The RSA is advising people to avoid using second-hand car seats unless they know their history as they could have been damaged in a collision. If this is the case, it will not provide the same level of protection to your child.
If your car seat was fitted in Winter, the RSA recommends tightening the harness because children will be wearing lighter clothes coming into the summer.
Do not move your child from a rearward-facing seat to a forward-facing one too soon and if you are unsure, seek advice from your retailer.
Look out for the RSA's new Code of Practice stickers which ensure that the best practice is achieved when parents or guardians are buying a new seat.
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