Car Safety

Securing your child appropriately in the car and ensuring children are not left unattended in a car is a key area for parents to enforce. Some general rules to consider and safety products relevant to this area are listed below:
 

• Rear-facing car seat/capsules are generally used from birth to six months, or when the child meets the seat's specific weight and height requirements.
   
• Forward facing car seats are generally used from six months to four years of age, or when the child meets the seat's specific weight and height requirements. Move the child into a booster seat if their shoulders are too wide or their eye level is higher than the seat, when seated.
   
• Booster seats are generally suitable for children weighing 14 kg to 26 kg and are used to raise the child up, and cannot be used safely with a lap-only seat belt.
   
• Adult lap/sash belt: generally used from ten years of age and over, or 32 kg.
   
• It is illegal for children (under ten years of age or 32 kg) to sit in the front seat if there is a side/front air bag. This may result in a fine and loss of demerit points, or worse – serious injury to your child.
  
  Child restraint laws vary from state to state in Australia. Visit your state's road authority for more information:
  
  Western Australia - go to www.ors.wa.gov.au
  
  Northern Territory -  go to www.roadsafety.nt.gov.au
  
  Queensland - go to www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/Safety/Road/Motor_vehicle/Child_restraints/
  
  South Australia - go to www.dtei.sa.gov.au
  
  New South Wales - go to www.rta.nsw.gov.au
  
  ACT - go to www.tams.act.gov.au
  
  Victoria - go to www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/SafetyAndRules/SaferVehicles/ChildRestraints/
  
  Tasmania - go to www.transport.tas.gov.au/licence_information/tasmanian_road_rules/road_safety_rules/child_restraints

• A car seat mirror can be useful to check on your little one while you are driving.
   
• Remove cigarette lighters from your car.
   
• Never leave keys in your car unsupervised.
   
• Never let your child play in the car.
   
• Always engage the child safety locks on car doors.
   
• Never use a nappy on the window to create shade for your child as this restricts driver visibility.
   
• On long trips, ensure children obtain enough fluids (avoid milk products).
   
• Sun tint, sunscreen films and sun shades on the side and rear windows.
   
• Always ensure your child’s seat belt is worn correctly. The Secur-ap ensures babies keep their arms in their car seat strap while you are driving. Additionally for older children, there are products available to ensure their seat belt is held in the correct position.
   
• Use a seat belt extension piece if seatbelt attachments are difficult to access/retrieve beside car seats/capsules.
   
• Never leave your child unattended in the car. On a 30-degree celsius day the temperature inside a car can rise up to 70 degrees celsius. 75% of this temperature rise occurs within five minutes.

Source: Modified from The Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia - Kidsafe and The Mother and Baby "Safety Guide".