Newly updated child seat guidelines have been released in New South Wales (NSW) to help parents and carers choose the right restraints and use them correctly.
The Best Practice Guidelines for the Safe Restraint of Children Travelling in Motor Vehicles, which has been developed by Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and Kidsafe Australia with input from Transport for NSW, aims to keep children aged up to 16 as safe as possible while travelling.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance says the updated guidelines will help parents make the best car seat choice for their child, while also advising them on how to install them correctly.
From 2011 to 2020, 13 children and teenagers (under the age of 16) died, and another 148 were injured in crashes while not properly restrained. Two others died and 222 were injured in crashes in vehicles where there were no seat belts available.
“We know around half of all child restraints aren’t fitted or used correctly, so I am urging all parents and carers to take advantage of the more than 300 authorised restraint fitting stations across NSW,” said Constance.
The National Child Restraint Guidelines can be viewed at https://kidsafe.com.au/crguidelines/
