A hard-hitting campaign called Nine months to carry seconds to kill! is being used by health chiefs to urge parents to strap their children in cars.

New parents and parents-to-be will be able to find out how to transport their children safely and get expert advice on how to fit child seats in a bid to slash the number of children injured and killed in accidents on Bradford roads An independent in-car safety expert will also be on hand at the launch of the campaign at Bradford Royal Infirmary's maternity unit on Wednesday to check if car seats have been correctly installed.

The campaign is a partnership between Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the district's primary care trusts, the Neighbourhood Road Safety Initiative (NRSI) and Bradford Council road safety officers.

Huma Rahman, a member of the Council's road safety team, said the problem of children not being transported properly was district wide but inner city areas tended to have a higher casualty rate.

"In-car safety is a huge problem all over," she said. "We have people not aware they should be using child seats and mums carrying new-borns in their arms, so we want to raise awareness among parents right from the very start of their children's life there is no better place to do that than at the maternity unit."

There will be information in the foyer of the maternity unit, off Smith Lane, where almost 6,000 babies are born every year, and leaflets in different languages.

Independent in-car safety consultant John Horsfall will be checking to see if seats are appropriate for the car and if they have been fitted correctly in the car park of the unit on Wednesday morning.

Mrs Rahman said: "When we have held events like this before we have parents going away shocked because their car seat is not appropriate.

"We want new parents to think ahead and fit car seats before they give birth. It takes nine months to carry a baby and just seconds to kill."

"The basic rule is if you have a child it needs to be in an appropriate car seat for their age. We will be working with the police to enforce the law from September so we want to give people the opportunity to get it right."

Dr Sam Oddie, consultant neonatalogist at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "I well remember from my days as a junior doctor in casualty caring for children injured, sometimes fatally, in road traffic accidents.

"There is no doubt that using appropriate child restraints in cars can help to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries that we see in Bradford.

"The first journey home from hospital is one that parents remember and doing it right, with the right car seat fitted properly, will help parents to remember the importance of getting a car seat from the very first days."

e-mail: claire.lomax@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

THE LAW FROM SEPTEMBER 20O6

  • Child under three: Front seat - correct child seat or booster must be used. Rear seat - correct child restraint must be used. (If one is not available in a taxi, may travel unrestrained). Who is responsible? - Driver.
  • Child aged three to 11 and under 4ft 5in: Front Seat - correct child seat or booster must be used. Rear seat - correct child car seat or booster must be used where seat belts fitted. Must use adult belt if: In a taxi, the correct child seat not available; On a short and occasional trip, the correct child seat not available; Two occupied child seats prevent fitting of a third. Who is responsible? - Driver.
  • Child 12 or 13 or more than 4ft 5in: Front seat - seat belt must be worn if fitted. Rear seat - adult seat belt must be worn if fitted. Who is responsible? - Driver.

Drivers are legally responsible for ensuring that children under 14 use seat belts and child restraints in cars, goods vehicles and minibuses. Those 14 years and above are responsible for themselves. There is a £30 fixed penalty for non-compliance. If the case goes to court, the maximum fine is £500.