Imperial, the diversified industrial services and retail group says it welcomes the implementation of regulations that makes child car-seats compulsory in private vehicles for infants under three years old.

CEO of the Imperial Car Rental Division, Dawn Nathan-Jones said the company together with its two brands; Europcar and Tempest Car Hire, have worked hard for many years to contribute to national and local road-safety campaigns.

“So we were relieved last year when Transport Minister Dipuo Peters moved to extend South Africa’s seatbelt regulations by preparing to make child car-seats compulsory in private vehicles for infants under three years old,” Nathan-Jones stated.

“We understand implementation of these regulations is due to begin soon. Approved child car-seats should then comply with the specification for SABS 1340 which covers ‘Child restraining devices in motor vehicles.’ Each one of these seats should carry the SABS certification or approval mark.”

The CEO said both Europcar and Tempest Car Hire already encourage their customers and staff to donate used car-seats to the Wheel Well initiative. This programme re-conditions and re-distributes child car-seats, broadening access to this vital protection.

“With our companies as brand leaders in their segments, Imperial Car Rental Division believes part of our mission is to do the best we can to promote road-safety culture across the southern African region where we operate. Both Europcar and Tempest Car Hire, our staff and systems do everything possible to encourage parents to include child car-seats in their booking if necessary.”

Nathan-Jones added that one of the ways in which Europcar plays a key role in the Imperial Road Safety Initiative: “To assist with traffic pressures over the Easter and May long weekends particularly, we have once again donated the use of vehicles for highway patrol between 31 March and 5 May,” the CEO said.

“These will be seen in operation along two of South Africa’s most difficult stretches of road, the N3 between Heidelberg and Cedara and the Bakwena N14 between Bela-Bela and Rustenburg. It’s another dimension of our campaign, ‘A little further goes a long way’.”

The rental car seats supplied by both Europcar and Tempest Car Hire are SABS-approved.

“We see this as vital to protecting the safety of small children whom we like to call our ‘future renters’,” says Nathan-Jones. “As Tempest is a leisure-oriented brand, we’re especially excited to make this affordable for families taking up our current ‘Save More Do More’ packages. For parents, adding child car-seats to the rental booking provides peace-of-mind, removing the stress of having to take their own seats with them.”

Imperial is a diversified industrial services and retail group with activities spanning logistics; car rental; tourism; financial services; vehicle distribution and retail.

It operates in South Africa, Africa, Europe and Australia, is listed on the Johannesburg stock exchange and employs over 40,000 people.  Imperial Group Limited has been awarded and recognised as one of the Top Employers of South Africa 2013-2014.  Europcar, Van Rental and Chauffeur Services are part of Imperial Group Limited.