Child Car Restraints
Every year around 14 children die in car crashes in Western Australia and a further 220 are hospitalised. In many instances these deaths could have been prevented by the correct purchase, installation and use of appropriate child car restraints.
The types of serious injuries sustained by children and infants who are not properly restrained can be horrendous. They include head and spinal cord injuries, strangulation and impact injuries when the child impacts with the vehicle's interior. There is also the risk of a child going through the windscreen if the driver has to brake suddenly.
If you are unsure how to install a child car restraint, help is available in various locations. A full list of Type I Child Restraint fitters in WA is available on the
RoadWise Child Car Restraints website.
New laws from 1 October 2010
New laws came into effect on 1 October 2010 that introduced new rules for the restraint of children in vehicles.
The new laws will reduce the risk of injury caused by the use of unsuitable restraints for a child’s size by specifying the type of restraint to be used at different ages and where children must be seated in a vehicle.
The new laws require children from:
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birth to under 6 months to be restrained in a rearward facing child restraint (e.g. infant capsule)
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6 months to under 4 years to be restrained in either a rearward or forward facing child restraint with in-built harness
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4 years to under 7 years to be restrained in either a forward facing child restraint or booster seat restrained by a correctly adjusted and fastened seat belt or child safety harness.
Also, children under 4 years are not allowed to sit in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows of seats, and those from 4 years to under 7 years are only allowed to sit in the front seats if all rear seats are occupied by children less than 7 years of age.
Children 7 years and over can be restrained in an adult seat belt or booster seat.
For more information on the changes to the laws, please download the Frequently Asked Questions below.
Choosing the right restraint
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For the safety of your child, it is important that you use restraints that are:
- appropriate for your child's size and height
- not old, worn restraints over 10 years old (or that have previously been in a crash)
- correctly installed in cars.
The major barriers to the appropriate use of child car restraints include:
- a lack of knowledge about which restraint to buy and use
- difficulty in correctly installing, fastening and adjusting restraints to fit the child
- using unsafe, second hand restraints
- continuing to use restraints which are damaged or where the elastic has worn out.
It is important that an appropriate restraint is used according to your child’s height and weight. Children who weigh under 26 kg should never be restrained by an adult restraint.
Many parents unintentionally put their child into the next child restraint too soon. Children grow at different rates, so if your child is still within the maximum height and weight limits of their current restraint, it is best to keep them in it regardless of their age.
The following publications provide further details for choosing the appropriate restraint for you to use:
Further information is available on the RoadWise Child Car Restraints website or call the Child Restraint Information Line on 1300 780 713.
Child restraint safety ratings
The Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP) crash tests child restraints and awards them safety ratings. The CREP website provides a list of safety ratings for a number of restraints.
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