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The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will set up fitting stations for child car seats within February, as these restraint systems will be required beginning Tuesday, February 2.

In an interview with TeleRadyo on Monday, February 1, LTO Metro Manila Director Clarence Guinto said enforcers are being trained to install child car seats.

“This February, we are now putting up fiting installation stations in our district offices. When schools open, we will also put up fitting stations there to educate motorists,” said Guinto in a mix of English and Filipino.

Republic Act No. 11229 or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act covers children 12 years old and below. The mandatory provisions under the law are taking effect in 2021 or one year after the implementing rules and regulations became effective in 2020.

Children below 4 feet and 11 inches are not allowed to sit in the front seat. A restraint system appropriate for the weight, height, and age of a child must be installed in motor vehicles.

When asked if a “tall” 12-year-old child should still sit in a booster seat, Guinto said parents should probably have “larger cars.” He later apologized for his remarks and clarified that children with a height of above 4 feet and 11 inches are exempted from using a car seat.

The LTO said there will be no apprehensions yet for violations of the law, as information dissemination must still take place.

Once the LTO starts apprehensions, violators will be fined P1,000 to P5,000 and the driver’s license may be suspended for a year for the 3rd and succeeding offenses.

Manufacturers and retailers of car seats will be fined not less than P50,000 and not more than P100,000 for each substandard product manufactured or sold.

According to the World Health Organization, a child restraint system can drastically reduce the risk of injury for children 0 to 4 years old. When these children have a rear-facing restraint on, the risk of injury is lessened by up to 80%, while those with only a seat belt on have a lessened risk of injury of only 32%.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that an average of 667 children died every year from 2006 to 2015 due to road crashes. – Rappler.com