New national child restraint laws were introduced in NSW on 1st March 2010 saying that all children up to the age of 7 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 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.
Safety Tips:
- A child that is properly secured in an approved child restraint is less likely to be injured or killed in a car crash than one who is not.
- 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 Licenced Approved restraint fitter if in any doubt.
- Always use the top tether strap where required for all Child Seat Fitting.
- 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.