Child Safety
Child seats, ISOFIX, rear-seat safety and the law — how to carry children safely in a new car and which features to look for when choosing one.
South African law requires children under three to be secured in a proper child restraint, and every road-safety body recommends a seat appropriate to the child's size well beyond that age. The car itself plays a large part. ISOFIX anchor points, which are now standard on the rear seats of almost every new car, allow a compatible child seat to lock directly to the body of the car instead of relying on the seatbelt, which removes the most common installation errors. Top-tether points, rear-door child locks, and window switches that can be disabled from the driver's seat complete the picture.
When comparing new cars for a family, the child-occupant score in the crash-test rating is the number to look at first, followed by whether the rear seat accepts the number of child seats you need side by side. Many seven-seaters and family SUVs in the Car4Less showroom are designed around exactly this, but it pays to check the ISOFIX positions and the width of the middle seat before deciding.
Child Safety — questions
The questions people ask about child safety, answered plainly.
What is ISOFIX and why does it matter?
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ISOFIX is an international standard for anchor points built into the car's seat frame, allowing a compatible child seat to clip on directly rather than being held by the seatbelt. Because the seat locks to the car body with a clear click, it is far less likely to be fitted loosely or incorrectly, which is the most common cause of child-seat failure in a crash.
What does South African law say about child seats?
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The National Road Traffic Regulations require any child under the age of three to be seated in an appropriate child restraint whenever the car is moving. Beyond that age the law requires a seatbelt, but safety bodies strongly recommend a booster or child seat until the child is tall enough for the adult belt to sit correctly across the shoulder and hips.
Can I use a child seat in the front seat?
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A rear-facing child seat must never be used in a front seat with an active airbag, because a deploying airbag can cause serious injury to the child. The rear seat is the safest place for any child. Some cars allow the passenger airbag to be switched off for a rear-facing seat, but the rear remains the recommended position.
How many child seats can I fit in a new car?
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Most new cars have two ISOFIX positions on the outer rear seats and a belt-only middle seat. Fitting three child seats side by side depends on the width of the rear bench and the seats you choose, which is why families with three young children often look at seven-seaters. Check the specific car with your own seats before committing.
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