October 2006 - The Boys' Brigade

Brigade announcements Brigade announcements
USE OF SEAT BELTS AND
BOOSTER SEATS
From September 2006, with few
exceptions, children travelling in cars
will be required to use an
appropriate child restraint. This
includes children being transported
in leaders’ vehicles to/from BB
events. In vehicles where seat belts
are fitted, children aged 3 years to
135 cm in height (or 12th birthday,
whichever they reach first) MUST
use the appropriate child restraint.
Three exceptions allow these
children to travel in the rear of a car
and use an adult belt:
• in a taxi, if the right child
restraint is not available;
• for a short distance in an
unexpected necessity, if the right
child restraint is not available,
• where two occupied child seats in
the rear prevent the fitment of a
third child seat.
[Note – children under 12 years in front
seats must use the appropriate restraint –
that is the law already.]
“Child restraints” is the collective term
in the seat belt wearing legislation for:
• baby seats – rear-facing and for
children up to 13 kg (approx age
birth to 9-12 months);
• child seats – forward facing and for
children 9 kg to 18 kg (approx 9
months to 4 years);
• booster seats – for children 15 kg to
25 kg (approx 4 to 6 years);
• booster cushions – for children 6
years and up.
£30 fixed penalty notice for noncompliance.
The maximum fine is £500.
Passengers in minibuses, buses and
coaches that have seatbelts fitted will
also be required to wear those seatbelts,
and operators will be required to notify
passengers that seat belts must be used.
• The use of booster seats is not a
mandatory requirement in
minibuses
• Seat belt wearing is already
compulsory in mini-buses. The
driver is responsible for seat belt
wearing by children under 14
years
• The new regulations will mean
that seated passengers aged 3
years and above will have to use
seat belts where they are fitted in
the larger buses and coaches. In
vehicles over 16 seats, the driver
is exempt from this responsibility
because he cannot be expected to
monitor seat belt wearing and
drive safely at the same time
• The driver or operator will be
required to take reasonable steps
to remind passengers of the need
to wear seat belts including
reminding them of this
requirement at the beginning of
the journey. Alternatively a sign
that takes the form of a pictorial
symbol (shown at the end of this
article) depicting a white figure
on a blue background should be
displayed at each passenger seat.
Further information at: www.childcarseats.org.uk or BBHQ
Retirement of Mary Care BEM
Brigade Council was the end of a
chapter in my story with the BB over
40 years. It culminated on the
Saturday afternoon of Brigade
Council in Wales and I could not
have dreamed of a better ending.
Since retiring at the end of May I
have been overwhelmed by love and
messages of goodwill. It certainly
does not feel like 40 years since I
started in Abbey House when in the
winter we had to carry a bucket of
coal up many flights of stairs to make
a fire in a room I shared with David
White, Junior Section Secretary,
before we started the day’s work.
I have been richly blessed in
belonging to the BB family and count
it a privilege to have made so many
friends, whom I will always
remember with affection. From the
bottom of my heart I thank you for
the wonderful gifts and letters I
received at Brigade Council. I shall
treasure the letters for ever. The BB
will always be part of me, I believe in
it, which is why it will never leave me.
May you all continue with the
wonderful work you are doing for
God by serving your boys in your
companies week after week. You
have so much to give them. The boys
need you and if you are faithful they
will be too. With huge thanks for
making my BB service so enjoyable
and fulfilling.
I am taking a host of memories with
me and hope to keep in touch with
the aches and pains and pleasures
and successes of the BB for many
years to come.
Mary Care
APPOINTMENT OF
BUSINESS DIRECTOR
Based at Brigade Headquarters,
Felden Lodge
Main responsibilities will include
oversight of the following:
Membership information;
Brigade Contracts;
Property;
Funding;
Insurance.
For further details and an
application form, please contact
Ms Jan Williamson (PA to the
Brigade Secretary) at Felden
Lodge.
Jan.Williamson@
boys-brigade.org.uk
01442 231681
Closing date for applications
Friday 27th October
page 102 • VOLUME 114 No. 4 • October 2006