Car Travel

In the ACT effective from March 2010 children under seven years of age must use a child restraint or booster seat when travelling in a car.

These rules require that:

• Children aged under 6 months must use an approved, properly fastened and adjusted  rearward facing restraint.
• Children aged between 6 months and under 4 years must use an approved, properly fastened and adjusted rearward facing child restraint OR a forward facing restraint.
• Children aged between 4 years and under 7 years must use an approved, properly fastened and adjusted  forward facing restraint OR an approved booster seat which is properly positioned and fastened.

Approved child restraints and booster seats meet the requirements of the Australian/ New Zealand  Standard (AS/NZS) 1754. This should be clear on the packaging and the restraint.

Exemptions to child restraint legislation apply if:

• a child under one is travelling in a taxi and a suitable restraint is not available, however the child must not travel in the front seat
• a child over one is travelling in a taxi, and there is no suitable restraint available and the child occupies their own seating position.
• a child is travelling in a police or emergency vehicle
• a child has a medical condition or physical disability that makes it impractical to use a child restraint, and the driver has a certificate from a doctor indicating this is the case.

Frequently asked questions 

What can I do if my child is too big for the restraint for their age?

The laws aim to cater for the majority of children, however there is a provision to allow a child who is too heavy or  tall for the recommended restraint to use the restraint in the next age category.

If my child is in a booster seat do they also need to be in a child safety harness?

Booster seats do not come with an internal child safety harness, and are designed to be used with a lap/sash seatbelt and therefore do not require a child safety harness. However, if your child is using a seating position fitted with a lap-only belt then they must use a child safety harness.

If I can't fit my three children in three restraints in the back, is it OK if one sits in the front?

Yes, under the following circumstances. If there are two child restraints or booster seats in the rear and there is not enough space to put a third restraint or booster in the rear seat then a passenger aged between four and less than seven years old can be in a booster seat in the front seat. You will need to use a booster seat that does not need to be anchored.

Can I still use the additional seat (dickie seat) that I have in the back of my station wagon?

Yes. Dickie seats will be permitted for use by children aged four years and less than seven years provided the seat is suitable for the child's height and weight and a lap/sash seatbelt or seatbelt with a child safety harness is used.