The Issues

In Western Australia, transport related injury is a leading cause of death and serious injury in children aged 0-14 years (Injury Control Program, 1997). Approximately 200 people are killed and 3,000 seriously injured in road crashes each year in Western Australia, with non-use of seat belts still a major contributor. Between 1990 and 1999, 33% of drivers and passengers killed in road crashes in WA were not wearing seat belts (Henstridge et al., 2000). In Western Australia between 1993 and 2003 an average of nine child passengers died each year, 186 were hospitalised and 200 presented at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children with injuries from vehicle crashes.

A CORRECTLY FITTED CHILD CAR RESTRAINT CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE RISK OF DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY IN ROAD CRASHES.

However the effectiveness of restraints in preventing death and injury can be impaired by the use of restraints that are not appropriate for the size and weight of the child, the use of damaged restraints or the incorrect installation of the restraint in the vehicle. A survey by Kidsafe in Western Australia (1998) found that 62% of child car restraints were fitted incorrectly.

Addressing the Issues

In 1999, the Child Car Restraint Sub-Committee of the Road Safety Council of WA developed a document Child Car Restraints in Western Australia: A Framework for Action. This framework recognised that agencies must work together to:

• Increase community knowledge of the effectiveness of appropriate child restraints in preventing death and injury;
• Increase the ability of parents/guardians to choose restraints that are appropriate for the size and weight of their child;
• Provide avenues to ensure child car restraints are installed correctly; and
• Increase compliance of parents and children with restraint use laws.

This framework also identified the need to train Type I Fitters of child car restraints and develop a state-wide network of these qualified fitters. Funding from the Road Safety Council has provided resources to develop a Type I Child Car Restraint Fitters Course which is currently being delivered throughout the state.

Current Issues
What is the status of implementation of Australian Road Rules 7th amendment package for child restraints?

The 7th Amendment to the National Road Rules were agreed on nationally in January 2008, however to be effective and enforceable they need to be adopted into State or Territory legislation.
A summary of the proposed changes are:
- Children up to 6 months must be in rear facing restraint
- Children up to 4 years must be in a restraint with an internal 5 point harness
- Children 4 to 7 years must be in booster seat
- Children under 4 are not permitted in front seat & under 7 are not permitted in front seat unless all rear seats are occupied by children less than 7 years

There will be exemptions for children outside weight / size guidelines for existing restraints

See below link for FAQs developed by the Office of Road Safety on the new leglisation
Child car restraints FAQ