Australian Child Car Seat Laws

 

New national child restraint laws were introduced in NSW on 1 March 2010 to help reduce the rate of child deaths an injuries in car accidents. Now, all children up to seven years of age must now be safely fastened into the right restraint for their age and size.

The new national child restraint laws state:

• Children younger than six months must be secured in a rearward facing restraint.
• Children aged six months to under four years must be secured in either a rear or forward facing restraint.
• Children aged four years to under seven years must be secured in forward facing child restraint or booster seat.
• Children younger than four years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows.
• Children aged four years to under seven years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in a child restraint or booster seat.

Remember

• Using a restraint correctly greatly increases a child's safety during a crash.
• Placing a child in a restraint that is designed for a larger/older child increases the risk of serious injury in a crash.
• Ensure the restraint is installed correctly. See a restraint fitter if in any doubt.
• Always use the top tether strap where required.
• Teach your child to always keep both arms within the harness system of the child seat or the seat belt of the booster seat.
• When using a seat belt with a booster, ensure the seat belt is correctly fitted over the child’s shoulder.
• Move your child into a forward-facing restraint only when they no longer fit into a rearward-facing restraint.
• Move your child into a booster seat only when they no longer fit into a forward-facing restraint.
• Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.

This article was written by the Birth team with information sourced from RTA NSW, RACQ Queensland and NRMA.