01.Introduction
In brief
- A research study funded by the RTA found that children who are restrained incorrectly are up to 7 times more likely to be seriously injured in a crash than children who are restrained correctly.
- It is estimated that every year in Australia, 28 children aged 10 years and under are killed and 2773 are injured in car crashes. Many of these could be prevented by the use of a correctly fitted child restraint of the right type for the child’s size.
The laws offer extra guidance for the safety of children and require the following:
- Children under six months to wear an approved, rearward-facing child restraint or infant capsule.
- Children aged between six months and under four years to wear an approved, rearward-facing child restraint or forward-facing child safety seat with an inbuilt harness.
- Children aged between four years and under seven years to wear an approved forward-facing restraint with an inbuilt harness or approved booster seat.
- Children under four years old also must not occupy the front seat of a car that has back seats. However, if all back seats are occupied by children under four, a child aged between four and seven may occupy the front seat, in an approved forward-facing child restraint or booster seat.
A child who is too tall or heavy for their age group’s required restraint should instead use one for the next age group. Taxis are exempt from these laws, but parents are encouraged to bring their own car restraint when using one.
When looking for a car restraint, consider:
- The age and size of your child.
- The size of the restraint. Will it fit in your car?
Make sure you get the installation manual and follow the instructions if you’re installing the restraint yourself. Contact your state’s or territory’s road traffic authority if you need help. They can provide information about the correct restraint for your child and direct you to an authorised fitting station. It’s best if you use an authorised fitting station.
All child restraints sold in Australia must meet stringent Australian Standard (AS/NZS1754) requirements, considered among the toughest in the world. If fitted and used properly, any of them can be expected to provide very good crash protection for your child.
The NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, NRMA and RACV periodically test current standards-certified models to find which ones offer protection beyond the standard requirements. They also look at how easy the restraints are to install and use correctly. Check the results table.
For more information on travelling with children, see Babies and Kids.
What is CREP?
The Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP) gives consumers independent and consistent information on the levels of occupant protection from injury in a crash provided by child restraints and the ease with which they can be used correctly. The program is supported by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA), the NRMA Motoring & Services and the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV).
Useful contacts
For more information on child restraints, or to find your nearest fitting station, contact:
Kidsafe Australia: www.kidsafe.com.au
NSW
RTA Customer Service enquiry on 132213 or www.rta.nsw.gov.au
NRMA Technical Advice on 131122 or www.mynrma.com.au
Victoria
RACV Motoring Advice Line on 03 9790 2190 or www.racv.com.au
TAC on www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au
Western Australia
RACWA on 131703 or www.rac.com.au
Queensland
Queensland Government – Transport and main roads www.tmr.qld.gov.au
South Australia
Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure www.dtei.sa.gov.au
Northern Territory
Northern Territory Transport Group www.roadsafety.nt.gov.au
ACT
ACT Government Territory and Municipal Services www.tams.act.gov.au