SIR Alex Ferguson has urged parents to ensure children wear their seatbelts correctly as he revealed his grandson had suffered serious injuries in a car crash because he had pulled his belt down.
Road safety groups welcomed the call from the Manchester United manager, who was speaking publicly for the first time about the collision last week, which left Charlie, ten, requiring emergency surgery.
They warned two-thirds of child car seats we
re not fitted correctly and the vast majority of drivers were unaware of laws governing their use.
Charlie's sister Grace, six, and their mother, Nadine, 30, were also injured in the two-car crash while the children were being driven to school in Cheshire.
Charlie, who is reported to have suffered the most serious injuries, with a punctured lung and a fractured spine, is showing signs of recovery and out of danger after undergoing emergency surgery. Mrs Ferguson separated from Sir Alex's son, Darren, two years ago. Charlie is her son from her first marriage.
Sir Alex said Charlie had pulled the shoulder section of his seatbelt down.
He said: "You never think about these things until it happens to your family. Now I am telling everyone I know to make sure their children are wearing their seatbelts properly.
"Something should be done about safer seatbelts for children. The children don't want to put them over their shoulder, they want it on their lap. That's what happened in the accident – why Charlie was so badly injured – he had it on his lap."
Motoring groups have praised him for highlighting the issue.
Neil Greig, policy and research director of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "No-one, no matter how famous, is immune from the dangers of not belting up properly.
"Getting it right for children requires patience and determination, and constant checking that the belt is fitting correctly.
"If you let your child pick up bad habits then they are at very high risk of injury."
Jo Stagg, a spokeswoman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa), said: "Seatbelts have to be worn correctly to work properly.
"We would encourage parents to talk to their children about why seatbelts are important and how they should be used correctly, so their use becomes second nature.
"
Ms Stagg said youngsters under 12 years, or shorter than 4ft 5in, should usually be equipped with booster seats.
Edmund King, the AA president, said: "Sir Alex is right that it is imperative for all children to be properly belted up. An AA poll showed 83 per cent were not aware of legislation requiring children to use the appropriate restraint or child seat.
"Modern belts are not uncomfortable so parents or drivers need to ensure that children are appropriately belted up. It can be a matter of life or death."
