Importance of Using Infant Car Seats

1. In-Car Safety: Infant car seats are designed to protect infants and children from severe injury or death in the event of a car accident. Proper use of car seats can reduce the risk of injury, hospitalization, or death by over 70%, compared to using seat belts or no restraint devices 4.

2. Legal Requirements: In many jurisdictions, the use of child car seats is mandatory. These regulations play a crucial role in reducing car accident fatalities and severe injuries.

3. Preventing SIDS and Other Risks: Although infant car seats are not suitable for prolonged sleep, they are safer during travel than other positions. However, infants should not sleep in car seats for extended periods, as this can increase the risk of SIDS and breathing difficulties, especially for premature infants.

4. Correct Positioning: Rear-facing car seats, in particular, provide better protection for an infant's head, neck, and spine.

Hong Kong's Latest Regulations

Starting November 1, 2025, Hong Kong will implement new regulations requiring all children under eight years old or shorter than 1.35 meters to use child restraint devices when traveling in private cars123.

Key Requirements

• Applicable Group: Children under eight years old must use child restraint devices (CRDs) unless they are 1.35 meters tall12.

• Approved Devices: Include child car seats, seat belt adjusters, wearable safety vests, or foldable booster seats13.

• Children Over Eight or 1.35 Meters Tall: Must use CRDs or adult seat belts13.

Penalties

• Non-compliance will result in a fixed fine of HK$230, with serious cases potentially leading to a court-imposed fine of up to HK$2,00015.

Exemptions

• Emergency situations (such as urgent medical transport)5.

• Drivers reasonably believe that children over eight years old or taller than 1.35 meters do not need CRDs5.

Comparison with Previous Regulations

Previous regulations required safety seats only for children under three in the front seat, and children aged 3-15 were required to use seat belts if available. The new regulations extend the requirement to children under eight, regardless of seat position23.

This revision aligns with international safety standards to reduce the risk of injury in traffic accidents. Public education campaigns will be conducted before implementation23.