July 2010     New nationally approved child restraint laws are now in effect, targeting the high rate of injuries amongst children travelling in cars. The new national road rules introduce a mandatory, size-appropriate restraint system for all children up to the age of seven.

RAA Manager Mobility and Safety, Wendy Bevan, said that in Australia alone, 500 children up to the age of 10 are killed or seriously injured each year in car accidents, with a further 2,300 sustaining minor injuries.

"These new laws will help to reduce the risk of injury posed to young children travelling in vehicles.
"Until now, it has been confusing for parents to know when it is safe to transfer a child from one type of child restraint to another and when it is safe to start using adult seatbelts," said Ms Bevan.

Although parents strive to do the right thing by their children and keep them safe, the reality is that many children are being moved into a bigger child restraint or adult seatbelt too early.

“These new laws will reduce the risk of injury caused by using a restraint which is not suitable for a child’s age and size and will ensure parents have clear guidelines on how to keep their children as safe as possible when travelling in a car,” she said.

"Up to 70% of restraints are improperly fitted," said the RACT's Darren Moody, General Manager, Roadside and Technical Services. "Our annual campaign of free winter car safety checks around the State reveals that people often use inappropriate restraints for children of different ages, and upgrade their children into the next level of restraint too early, or out of boosters and into seat belts too early.

"We've noticed that parents are generally moving their children into adult seat belts from about the age of five and a half, yet research suggests this is too early.

"Children up to seven years are at least four times more likely to sustain a head injury in a crash when restrained by an adult seat belt. Other research shows seating children aged four to seven in an appropriate booster seat reduces their risk of injury in a crash by almost 60 percent, compared to being in an adult seatbelt only.

The new laws will require:

• Infants up to six months old to be restrained in a rearward facing infant restraint
• children aged between six months and four years old to be seated in either a rearward or forward facing child restraint
• children from the age of four to seven to be seated in a forward facing child restraint or booster seat
• children under the age of four to be seated in the rear of the vehicle
• children from the age of four to seven years to be only permitted in the front of the vehicle if all rear seats are already occupied by younger children

SA Road Safety Minister, Jack Snelling says the new laws represent significant changes that will provide greater protection for children travelling in vehicles and will go a long way towards reducing road trauma.
“The simple fact is seatbelts and child restraints save lives and can reduce the trauma of crashes dramatically. Nothing else offers the same level of crash protection for babies and young children as a properly fitted child restraint,” Mr Snelling said.

By law, drivers are responsible for ensuring that they and any other passengers in the vehicle are appropriately restrained, regardless of their age.

“Any parents who need advice on suitable restraints for their children are encouraged to talk to a restraint fitting expert for advice on the safest restraints available for a child at every stage of their growth.

For more information about the proposed laws and child restraints, visit:

http://www.raa.com.au/
www.sa.gov.au/restraints
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/

Child Restraint Calculator: http://www.racv.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/Internet/Primary/road+safety/child+safety

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