Car Hire Broker axes baby seats to improve child safety

September 04, 2007 (PRLEAP.COM) Travel News
Online car hire brokerage, Economy Car Hire Ltd has axed baby seats from its optional extras in a move to help improve the safety of infants. Customers are being advised to take their own child seats, particularly rearward-facing seats for young babies aged 0-9 months, young babies’ bones are not developed enough to withstand the force of a collision if they are not seated with the proper restraint.

Managing Director, Rory Sexton said, “People are advised not to buy second-hand child seats, so why rent a seat which may have been used by many people previously? Damage may not be visible and the standard of child seats in foreign countries is not always as high as it is in the UK.”

Although car rental companies try very hard to maintain a selection of new child seats which are in good condition, they are often abused in rental cars and maintaining their condition can be a difficult task.

It is always the customer’s responsibility to fit the child seat, which can cause a problem if customers have to fit a child seat which they are not familiar with.

Customers who choose to hire a seat from a car hire company, should check it thoroughly and ensure that it is fitted correctly and never drive away in the hire vehicle when children are not properly restrained in a suitable child seat. Look for the “E” mark which identifies that the seat meets the United Nations standard regulation.

Further information about the use of child seats in specific countries and taking child seats onboard airplanes can be found on the Economy Car Hire website, http://www.economycarhire.com/child-car-seat.php

More about Economy Car Hire Ltd:

Economy Car Hire Ltd provide car rental in 15 countries, including Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, Turkey and Malta.

What’s included?

•No insurance excess.
•No hidden extras.
•Unlimited mileage.
•Free additional driver.
•Public Liability Cover for the drivers.
•Third party liability cover.
•Collision damage waiver liability (CDW). This covers you for damage to your hired car in the event of an accident.
•Theft loss waiver (if the vehicle is stolen)
•Airport surcharges.
•Bail bonds (where required).
•All local taxes.
•Free 24hr backup service.

If you want to find out more information please visit http://www.economycarhire.com