Road Rules For Little Passengers
As ‘Safety Leaders’ we want to make the ever-so confusing topic of car seat safety as simple and as straight forward as possible so that you are free to enjoy family life the way you want.
Here’s a handy guide to Australian Road Rules for Child Car Seats and our recommendations for above and beyond safety.
GUIDE TO CHOOSING A CHILD CAR SEAT
To provide maximum protection for children travelling in vehicles, it is important to choose the right child car seat. Here’s what you need to know…
ROAD SAFETY LAWS
Refer to your State specific Road Laws Guide as there may be minor variations.
Up to 6 months
Must be secured in an approved, properly fastened and adjusted, rearward-facing child car seat.
BRITAX RECOMMENDS:
‘Rear for a Year’ (at least)
0 – 12 months approx.
UNITY™ ISOFIX COMPATIBLE BABY CAPSULE
From 6 months up to 4 years
Must be secured in an approved, properly fastened and adjusted, rearward-facing child car seat or a forward-facing child car seat with an inbuilt harness.
BRITAX RECOMMENDS:
Rearward-facing for longer
0 – 4 yrs approx.
PLATINUM PRO™ CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT
From 4 years up to 8 years
Must be secured in an approved, properly fastened and adjusted, forward-facing child car seat with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat which is properly positioned and fastened.
BRITAX RECOMMENDS:
Harnessed for longer
6 months – 8 yrs approx.
MAXI GUARD PRO™ HARNESSED CAR SEAT
7 years and older
From 7 years of age children can travel in a car secured in either a booster seat or the car’s adult seat belt.
BRITAX RECOMMENDS:
Safety beyond 7yrs / 135cm
4 yrs – 10 yrs approx.
SHOULDER HEIGHT MARKERS, HOW DO THEY WORK?
Shoulder height markers make it easy for parents to determine if a child car seat is suitable for their child and when the child needs to move to the next child car seat.
Height Markers, located on the inner side of the seat, prompt parents and carers to ensure their child’s seats, and associated harnesses, are moved or adjusted at the right stages of the child’s development to maintain optimised safety.
Lower Shoulder Height Marker
Is my child too small for this child car seat?
Upper Shoulder Height Marker
Is my child too big for this child car seat?
Height Markers that tells you when to change
On some child car seats shoulder height markers will determine when the child needs to change position or change to the next mode.
