A SERIES of road shows are to be held across Devon this month which will give parents the chance to have children's car seats fitted and checked by a professional.

European MPs passed a new seatbelt law last month which aims to ban the transport of young children in cars without the use of baby seats or raised boosters, making it illegal for adults in the back seat to hold children on their knees.

Evidence shows that of the thousands of accidents involving children as passengers each year, which resulted in death, serious or slight injury, many had incorrectly fitted child restraints.

Devon County Council said that the public needs to wake up to the real danger of incorrectly fitted restraints and is providing professional advice to help adults choose appropriate car seats and fit them correctly.

Cllr David Morrish, Devon County Council's portfolio holder for environment, said: "The alarming fact is that having a child in an incorrectly fitted seat could actually increase their risk of injury, rather than protect them. No matter how well designed restraints are, if they are not fitted correctly they can be useless in crash situations."

Devon County Council's road safety team has arranged a series of county-wide training days for car sales teams, garage mechanics and retailers of child restraint equipment to help them advise customers on choosing the right seat for their child and how to fit it correctly.

Cllr Morrish said: "We want to make the information widely available, which is why we're training the people that conduct the MOTs, service the cars and sell the cars or car seats so that they can advise their customers directly."

Parents and guardians are also being encouraged to take their own cars complete with child restraints and children, to any of a number of public roadshows being organised by the council this April and May.

The object is to enable the public to check their car seats and fitting with a professional who will be able to offer advice.

The Tiverton public roadshow took place on Wednesday (April 30) at Safeway.

The Road Safety Team provides advice on buying the right seat and fitting it correctly, as well as information concerning seatbelts, airbags and travelling with older children.

A leaflet has been produced and is available for the public, as is a list of garages and retailers that have already undergone the child restraint training. For further information telephone Devon County Council's Road Safety Helpline on 01392-382590.