Embrace Life - always wear your seat belt
American drivers in Europe should be aware of the standards for safety seats for children.
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HEIDELBERG, Germany April 24, 2008 - Recent changes to the laws on safety seats for children German car may not affect the behavior of Americans in Germany, but US military officials in Europe say travelers should be aware of laws already on books, especially on vacation outside of Germany.
Although USAREUR will not require car seats approved by the Ministry of Transport U S to be replaced, according to the authorities, it is wise to know the laws for child restraint when traveling in Europe.
German law since 1993 stipulates that passengers under 12 and under 150 centimeters 4 feet 11 inches tall must be in a child passenger restraint system over 12 years or above the legal height must use the the car's seat belt system.
DOT-approved seats and the EU are acceptable in Germany, and both are listed in AE Regulation 190-1 driving license and vehicle and installing the Highway Code for US forces in Germany, which will be amended to reflect the new German standards, said Tom Lorenzini, registrar USAREUR vehicles.
The correct names for the seats approved by the EU can be validated by checking the seat label, which displays a number to several figures placed below a letter I circled This number must begin with 03 or 04.
If you buy a child seat, it makes sense to buy the certified EU headquarters because it eliminates the possible implementation problems; if it is properly installed, it is the way to go, however, no one wants to force the soldiers and families to buy new European seats that will not have the DOT certification on their return to the United States, though some manufacturers sell in markets and meet the standards, said Lorenzini.
Lorenzini said that US forces in Germany does not comply with certifications conform to European standards, based on the status of the Agreement and the Supplementary Agreement of Forces servicemembers like American cars do not have to meet the EU or German Technischer Ueberwachungs-Verein standards based on the agreement, but he noted that Polizei are not SOFA experts.
German Polizei or the police of other countries should not be expected to be experts on the status of forces, said Paul J Conderman, head of foreign law in USAREUR Office of the Judge Advocate The bottom line is that if issued a ticket, the driver will have the burden of establishing non-compliance database.
In addition, Conderman recommended that travelers check with the Public Affairs Office garrison covering the travel region for specific information, for example, the seat height of the legal child for the Netherlands and Belgium is 135 centimeters .
Lorenzini noted that German law also requires that pets - categorized as cargo - must be taken.
That's why you see many people with nets or screens mounted between the animals and the rest of the vehicle, he said.
From a practical standpoint, this means that animals must not distract the driver or interfere with the safe operation of the vehicle, Conderman added a rule, they should be in the back seat or cargo, secured with Special boxes, nets or cages.
Lorenzini said in a crash an unsecured animal or cargo can become a dangerous missile, and noted that Polizei can fine drivers 35-50 euros, plus assess three points on their license, to transport goods without guarantee.
If the cargo is propelled into the driver or passengers during an accident, the insurance would not pay for the injuries, he added.
This article was compiled from reports of the governance control Installation and Europe Office Art McQueen U S Army Garrison Heidelberg Public Affairs Office.
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