Thousands of drivers are putting their children's lives at risk by ignoring seat belt laws.

An astonishing 80 per cent say they don't know the rules on child seat legislation introduced last September.

And the figures are borne out by shocking scenes like these pictured on the streets of Bradford (above) of a young child hanging from the window of a moving car, and another not strapped in to the front seat.

The alarming poll, carried out by Yougov, revealed that 80 per cent of Yorkshire drivers are simply unaware of the changes in child seat laws which were widely publicised when they came into force nine months ago.

The survey, carried out for this week's Child Safety Week, has also suggested that up to 70 per cent of car seats are wrongly fitted.

The law now requires that children aged between three and 12, who are less than 135 cm tall, must use booster seats or cushions.

Drivers who fail to do so could face a £30 on-the-spot penalty, or a £500 fine if taken to court.

Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust is staging a series of road shows at supermarket car parks this week and next to urge drivers to obey the law.

Trained school nurses and health visitors will take part in the roadshows and an in-car safety consultant will conduct free safety checks on infant car seats.

Parents will also be shown how to correctly adjust seats and be given advice about the suitability of existing seats.

A tPCT spokesman said: "We are asking parents to spend five minutes of their time to learn from an expert about fitting the seats properly. Although we don't want accidents to happen, those five minutes might just save the lives of their children.

"Anyone with an infant car seat is welcome to come along for a free check."

The roadshows began today at Morrisons in Mayo Avenue, Bradford, 9.30am-12.30pm and at Netto in Canterbury Avenue, 1.30pm-4pm.

Tomorrow the roadshow will be at the Asda store in Rooley Lane all day.

Next Tuesday, the roadshow will be at the Morrisons store at Victoria Shopping Centre, Girlington, all day and on Wednesday, June 27, it will be at Morrisons in Worth Way, Keighley.

Last year Bradford Council's road safety team distributed educational packs for the 6,500 Year 1 primary school pupils in the district to take home.