Safe Around Schools
Passenger Safety for all children
To travel in a car, all children under 7 years old must be in a child restraint/car seat.
Drivers are responsible for all children aged under 7 being secured by an approved child restraint suitable for their age and size. All other children and passengers must wear a seatbelt.
Below is an easy visual showing each age group and when a child is able to wear just the seatbelt.
All children must be safely fastened in the correct child car seat for their age and size. It is recommended that a booster seat is used until a child is at least 145cm tall, even if they are more than seven years old. This is due to the design and placement of vehicles’ seatbelt anchor points. It is important not to rush a child out of a booster seat until they are the appropriate size.
When is my child ready to use a normal seatbelt?
A child is ready to use a normal seatbelt if they are seven years of age and 145cm tall, and at least one following has been met:
- The child’s shoulders no longer fit comfortably in a booster seat;
- their eye level is higher than the back of the booster seat, or;
- their shoulder level has surpassed the seat’s shoulder marks.
How to wear a seatbelt
When seatbelts are worn correctly, they reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash.
The top part of the seatbelt should be placed nicely on the shoulder and the bottom part placed flat on the hips. The seatbelt needs to be a fit firm with no twists or knots.
Safety Door Always have children enter and exit the car using the safety door (footpath side and backseat preferred). If you are dropping children at the Drop off Pick up zone, always ensure children enter and exit using the safety door.
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Car Seats Save Lives - Car Seats Save Lives
DRIVING SAFELY AROUND SCHOOLS:
Images courtesy of:
www.service.nsw.gov.au
www.vicroads.vic.gov.au