A child who is properly secured in an approved child car seat is less likely to be killed or injured in a crash than one who is not.
Children aged between four and 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 car seat.
National child restraint laws require your child to be restrained in the car as follows:
0 – 6 months
Approved rear-facing child car seat.
6 months – 4 years
Approved rear or forward-facing child car seat.
4+ years
Approved forward-facing child car seat or booster seat.
145cm or taller
Suggested minimum height to use adult lap-sash belt.
Here are a few things you can do to help keep your children safe in and out of the car:
- Children should remain in the car until an adult opens the ‘Safety Door’. This is the rear footpath side door of the car.
- A sleeping child must remain firmly buckled up while in the car.
- Assist your children to buckle up – always check the seatbelt is buckled up firmly and not twisted.
- Make it a rule that every passenger must be securely buckled into a seatbelt or child car seat before you start the car.
- Always help your child get in and out of the car through the ‘Safety Door’