Child Restraint Laws TAS

Laws from 30 November 2009

On 30 November 2009 there were some changes to the road rules about child restraints, with further changes from 30 November 2010.

From 30 November 2009 all children under four years of age must wear an approved child restraint that is properly fastened and adjusted when travelling in a car for improved safety. The type of restraint will depend on the age of the child as follows:

• under the age of six months: to be restrained in an approved rearward facing child restraint (e.g. infant capsule)

• from six months to less than the age of four: to be restrained in either an approved rearward facing child restraint or an approved forward facing child restraint with inbuilt harness (e.g. child safety seat)

There are also new laws about where children can sit in vehicles.

• If a car has two or more rows of seats, then children under four years must not travel in the front seat.

• If all seats, other than the front seats, are being used by children under seven years, children aged between four and six years (inclusive) may travel in the front seat, provided they use an approved child restraint or booster seat.

Laws from 30 November 2010

From 30 November 2010, children aged four years to less than the age of seven must be restrained in either an approved forward facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat restrained by a correctly adjusted and fastened seatbelt.

The following table is a guide to selecting a suitable child restraint.

Penalty

The penalty for failing to ensure a child aged under 16 years wears a child restraint or seat belt as required, is 3 demerit points and $350 fine.

Exemptions

Taxi drivers will be exempt from the child restraint requirements for children under 4 years. However, they will continue to be responsible for ensuring a child aged 4 years to less than 16 years wears an available seat belt or child restraint. Parents are encouraged to use their own restraints in taxis where possible. When there is no suitable child restraint available a seatbelt should be worn.

Source: Department of Infrastructure, Energy & Resources