Transporting children safely

For the best protection in the event of a collision, all occupants must travel seated and secured by the appropriate restraint systems, including infants and children! This requirement is mandatory under Directive 2003/20/EC in all European Union Member States.

Children under 1.50 metres tall, up to 12 years of age, must be protected with suitable restraint devices and should be seated in the rear seats.

Accident statistics show that the rear seats offer greater safety for children.

Compared with adults, children have a head that is proportionally larger and heavier than the rest of the body, while their muscles and bone structure are not fully developed. For this reason, to restrain them correctly in a collision, systems other than adult seat belts are required to minimise the risk of injury in an accident, emergency braking or sudden manoeuvre.

Children must sit safely and comfortably. Depending on the characteristics of the child seat used, it is recommended to keep children in rear-facing child seats for as long as possible (at least until 3-4 years of age), as this is the most protective position in the event of a collision.

The most suitable child restraint device must be chosen based on the child's weight and size. There are different types of child restraint systems, which can be secured to the vehicle using the seat belts or using the ISOFIX anchorages.

Always choose the restraint system most suitable for the child. To this end, always consult the Owner's and Maintenance Handbook supplied with the child seat to make sure it is the right type for the child it is intended for.

In Europe, the characteristics of child restraint systems are regulated by standard ECE-R44, which divides them into five weight groups:

All restraint devices must show the approval data, together with the approval mark, on a label securely attached to the child seat. This label must never be removed.

The MOPAR accessories range includes child seats suitable for every weight group. This choice is recommended, as they have been specifically tested for Fiat vehicles.