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Keeping Kids Safe in the Back SeatLast modified: November 6, 2009 - 11:40 AM
New child restraint laws, which provide a safe pathway from capsules to seat belts, have been announced in NSW to reduce the risk of injury caused by restraints which are unsuitable for a child’s weight and height. In Australia around 500 children up to the age of 10 are killed or seriously injured every year in car accidents, with 2,300 sustaining minor injuries. Wingecarribee Road Safety Officer, Charmaine Cooper said “The new laws will require children up to 6 months old to be restrained in a rearward facing infant capsule and then be moved into a forward facing child seat until the age of 4.” “Most parents I speak with already do this although some are moving their children on to a booster seat much too early. Having seen some pretty horrific images of the injuries children can sustain in a crash, from being in a seat that’s too big for them or just a seatbelt, I’m keen to encourage parents to keep their children in a child seat as long as possible.” Booster seats will be legally required for 4 to 7 year olds but Ms Cooper said older children could also benefit from using a booster seat if the seatbelts in the car they are traveling in couldn’t be adjusted away from their throat. An additional law will clarify when it is safe for children to be seated in the front seat. Children up to four years old will be required to sit in the rear of a vehicle. A child aged 4 to 7 years old must be seated in the back, unless all the rear seat positions are occupied by other young children (under 7 years old). Ms Cooper said that while most parents and carers strive to do the right thing using guidance material already available, research shows some children are being moved to bigger seats or a seatbelt designed for adults too early. Wingecarribee Shire Council has $10 discount vouchers available for the first 100 people who book in with a local authorised restraint fitting station. Visit www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/roads to download a voucher or call 4868 0809. For information about what type of restraint to buy as well as how to use it correctly visit http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/downloads/childrestraints_dl1.html for a copy of the RTA's 2009 Safer Child Restraint Guide. Contact details |
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© 2008 Wingecarribee Shire Council |
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