Parents across the country can have their child safety seats professionally checked and corrected free of charge in the coming week.
The Road Safety Authority's most recent survey found 80 per cent of child car seats and restraints were improperly installed, and at least half of the restraints seen at 2005 Roadshow venues would have been entirely ineffective in a collision, according to RSA chief executive Noel Brett.
A variety of mistakes can be made in selecting and installing a child safety seat, said Mark Bennett, UK child car seat installation expert.
"Many times people have purchased a seat that is entirely wrong for the particular car, and it will just never fit properly," Mr Bennett said.
"Also, parents are keen to move babies from one stage to another much too soon in terms of switching from a rear-facing restraint to a front-facing one, putting them in danger of head and neck injuries," he said
A 2006 EU directive gave legal backing to the mandatory use of appropriate child restraints, with drivers found in breach of the regulations facing a fine up to €2,000.
The Road Safety Authority's "Check it Fits" Roadshow 2007 will run in the following locations and venues, all from 9.30am to 4pm: Saturday 29th September, Blanchardstown Shopping Centre (SC); Sunday 30th September, Newhall Retail Park, Naas, Co Kildare; Monday 1st October, Mahon Point SC, Cork City; Tuesday 2nd October, Childers Road Retail Park, Limerick City; Thursday 4th October, Sligo Retail Park, Sligo Town; Friday 5th October, Golden Island Shopping Centre, Athlone, Co Westmeath.
Information leaflets, DVDs and posters will be available at "Check it Fits" sites, or by phoning the RSA on 1890 50 60 80. Additionally, a website dedicated to child car seat safety can be referenced at www.rsa.ie/childsafetyincars.ie.