Child Restraint Free Presentation

Free Help to Make Sure Your Child Car Seat is Safe

All parents want their children to be as safe as possible in the car; however a lot of confusion exists as to the type of child restraint to use initially, and at what age or size to progress to the next stage of restraint.  

Research by the Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP) shows that the highest levels of protection are provided when your child is in the correct restraint. However currently, 2 in 3 child car seats are not being used properly and/or are incorrectly fitted.

Council’s Road Safety Officer advises “Preparing for holiday season travelling is important for families who want to be safe on the roads.”

For peace of mind, Council suggests parents and carers take the opportunity to ensure all child restraints are correctly fitted.

Current Child Restraint Laws

• Children younger than six months must be restrained in an approved rearward facing restraint.
• Children aged between six months and four years must be restrained in an approved rearward or forward facing restraint.
• Children aged between four and seven years must be restrained in an approved forward facing child restraint or booster seat.
• Children younger than four years must not travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows.
• Children aged between four years and seven years must not 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 an approved child restraint.

Council also cautions – “You may have chosen the correct restraint, but is it correctly fitted?”

A poorly fitted child restraint will not protect your child properly if you are involved in a crash. Each year in Australia many children are killed or injured in road crashes because they are unrestrained or are not restrained correctly. A child’s chance of surviving a serious crash significantly increases when they are seated in a correctly fitted and appropriate child restraint.

So come along to Council’s free child car seat presentation and learn the latest information to keep your child safe.

Bookings are essential. Please call 0437 398 314.

For further information about child car seat safety ratings visit www.childcarseats.com.au.

For further information about child restraint fitting sites visit http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au