Child Restraints and Seatbelts

They're counting on you

Many children are killed or injured in car crashes every year. Some of these deaths and injuries could be prevented or reduced if the right child car seat is used correctly.

National Child Restraint Laws were introduced in NSW on 1 March 2010.

All children must now be safely fastened into the correct child car seat for their age and size.

A child that is properly secured in an approved child car seat is less likely to be injured or killed in a car crash than one who is not.

A dedicated website has been developed to help parents make the safest choice when selecting an appropriate child car seat. To help ensure that you select the correct seat for your child's age and size, visit the Child Car Seats website.

Summary of requirements - National laws

National Child Restraint Laws state:

• Children up to the age of six months must be secured in a rearward facing restraint.
• Children aged between six months and four years must be secured in either a rear or forward facing restraint.
• Children aged between four years and seven years must be secured in a forward facing child restraint or booster seat.
• Children up to the age of four years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows of seats.
• Children aged between four years and seven years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows of seats, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in a child restraint or booster seat.
• Children aged between seven years old and 16 years old must use a booster seat if they are too small to be restrained by a seatbelt properly adjusted and fastened.

For detailed information, please visit Transport NSW - Child Car Seats.

Council's free child car seat inspection and fitting service

Council provides several free child restraint inspection and fitting services throughout the year. Bookings are limited and only open to residents of the Campbelltown City Council area.

Need more information?

Contact our Road Safety Officer
Phone: 02 4645 4800
Check out our: What's On page.

Seatbelts

Although it has been compulsory to wear seatbelts in New South Wales since 1971, each year on average there are more than 50 people killed and 300 injured who were not wearing seatbelts.

These deaths and injuries could have been prevented if seatbelts had been used.

In a crash, a person who is not restrained by a seatbelt will continue to travel forward at the speed the vehicle was travelling until something stops them. This could be the steering wheel, dashboard or windscreen. In some crashes, the person may burst through one of the windows and be partially or fully ejected from the vehicle, exposing them to other dangers. They might hit fixed objects or be run over or crushed by their own, or another, vehicle.

For more information on seat belts, please visit Transport NSW - Seat Belts.