Restraint road rules
All persons travelling in a motor vehicle must travel in a restraint that is properly adjusted and fastened. The restraint will be a child restraint, booster seat or adult seatbelt. The type of restraint will depend on the person’s size. The road rules in Victoria require:
A child under six months of age to travel in a rearward facing approved child restraint.
A child aged six months to under 4 years to travel in either a rearward facing OR forward facing approved child restraint. The type of restraint will depend on the child’s size.
A child aged 4 years to under 7 years to travel in either a forward facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness, or an approved booster seat*. The type of restraint will depend on the child’s size.
A child aged 7 years to under 16 years to travel in either an approved booster seat or an adult seatbelt. The type of restraint will depend on the child’s size.
A person 16 years and over to travel in an adult seatbelt.
* A booster seat can be used with a lap-sash seatbelt or child safety harness. A child safety harness is not recommended for use with a booster seat in a seating position with a lap-sash seatbelt.
What are the new laws in regards to child restraints?
All children under seven years of age must be secured in a child restraint or booster seat when traveling in a vehicle. The new child restraint laws in NSW are based on national model legislation.
Babies up to six months of age must be restrained in a rearward facing restraint.
Children from six months to under four years of age must be restrained in a rearward facing or forward facing restraint. Children under four years of age must not be in the front row of a vehicle with two or more rows.
From four years to under seven years of age a forward facing restraint or booster seat must be used. Children from four to under seven years of age can only sit in the front row of a vehicle with two or more rows when all other seats are occupied by children of a lesser age in an approved child restraint.
The ages specified above are a guide for the safety of your child. If your child is too small for a restraint specified for their age, they should be kept in their current restraint for as long as necessary.
If your child is too large for a restraint specified for their age, they may move to the next level of restraint.