Laois-Offaly gardaí find children 'crammed' into commercial van

CHILDREN as young as two with no safety belts were found ‘crammed’ into a commercial van when it was stopped by Laois-Offaly gardaí.

Four people, including three unrestrained children, were packed into a three-seater bench seat when the van was pulled in for inspection on New Year's Day.

A folding chair was also placed in the rear of the van to carry an extra passenger.

Posting photos on the Garda-Síochána Laois-Offaly social media page today, gardaí said: ‘This incident is a stark reminder of the importance of road safety laws and the severe risks posed by improper seating and lack of seat belt use.’ 

The commercial van was stopped by members of the Offaly Roads Policing Unit, who found that rear seat passengers were not wearing seat belts.  Gardaí said: ‘Instead, they were sitting on them, including a two-year-old child who was completely unrestrained. 

'Adding to the danger, four people were crammed into a three-seater bench seat, including three children aged 9, 10 and two years old, alongside an adult.

‘An extra seat had been added in the back to carry additional passengers, violating safety standards.’ 

Appealing to drivers to prioritise the safety of passengers, gardaí said that road safety laws are in place to protect everyone, especially vulnerable passengers such as children.

They said: ‘Parents and drivers, we urge you to prioritise the safety of your passengers. Ensure all passengers, regardless of age, are seated properly and restrained according to the law. Let’s start the New Year by keeping our roads safe for all.’

The driver is facing prosecution for a series of traffic offences.