You would never let a priceless Ming vase roll around on the back seat of a car -but an unrestrained child standing on the back seat and waving out of the window is still a common sight on our roads.

Children are one of the most precious things in our lives, but too many parents do not restrain their children properly when travelling by car.

It's not just that many parents have not fitted safety seats in their vehicles for their children, but many have fitted restraints which are entirely unsuitable for their purpose safety.

A new survey shows that the lives of thousands of youngsters are being put at risk each year on our roads with four in five child safety seats being incorrectly fitted.

It's an accident waiting to happen, and practically as dangerous as leaving a bread knife within easy reach of a toddler.

The survey, conducted by Mother and Baby magazine, reveals that about 50 per cent of parents do not even know if their child seat is the right model for their car or their child.

And 55 per cent of parents surveyed were using second-hand car seats, which experts said failed to offer sufficient level of protection.

Thames Valley Police has an ongoing campaign to improve child safety on the roads. Parents can face a 40 on-the-spot fine if their child is inadequately restrained.

Youngsters need special car seats or booster cushions until they are at least six or seven, because adult-sized seat belts are too big to restrain them in the event of a crash.

WPc Annie Wadley, based at Bicester Police Station, says parents need to be educated about the importance of car safety seats and seat belts and pass on their understanding to their children.

She says: "It is vital that children are restrained when they are travelling in a car. I recently had to stop a motor vehicle being driven with a six-year-old child standing between the passenger seat and the driver."

Remember, a broken vase can always be stuck together by glue a child can't.

Points to watch:

Experts have identified a string of major problems that people have when fitting car safety seats. These include:

*Buckle crunching where the adult seat belt buckle rests against the frame of the child's car seat and could shatter in an accident

* Incorrect routing of the adult seat belt around the child car seat

*Loose adult seat belts allowing the child's car seat to move around too much

*Child harnesses in the car seat that are too slack.