Child Restraint Checking Days

FREE child restraint checking days

Twice a year (March and September) we get professional fitters to check child restraints in cars.

They work here in the Council undercover car park.

You can come and ensure your children are in the right restraints, plus get any questions answered.

You will need to book your car(s) in, so we can get the fitters to see everyone...

Bookings open - https://www.trybooking.com/XCOT

Saturday 8 September, 9am - 1pm

North Sydney Council

undercover car park (Kelrose Lane, off McLaren St)

200 Miller Street

North Sydney, NSW 2060

Contact Details: Road Safety Coordinator, 9936 8100.

 

Ratings for Car seats

Ratings for ten new child car seats have come into effect and are now available: Child Car Seats website

The ratings help consumers make the safest choice when it comes to child car seats. The aim is to profile the safety benefits of child car seats, show consumers the correct car seat that is the safest for their child, and how to get it fitted and adjusted correctly to the car seat.

Child car seat ratings include:

Rearward facing for babies up to 6 months. Rearward facing for babies up to 12 months. Convertible seats in rearward facing mode for babies up to 12 months and forward facing mode for babies 6 months to children up to 4 years.

Convertible seats in rearward facing mode for babies up to 2.5 years and forward facing mode for babies 6 months to children up to 4 years.

Child Car Seats is an initiative of the Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP), a partnership between Transport for NSW, NRMA, RACV, TAC and VicRoads.

National Child Restraint Laws Children up to the age of 6 months must be secured in an approved rearward facing restraint. Children aged from 6 months old but under 4 years old must be secured in either a rear or forward facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness. Children under 4 years old cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows. Children aged from 4 years old but under 7 years old must be secured in a forward facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat. Children aged from 4 years old but under 7 years old cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in an approved child restraint or booster seat. Children aged from 7 years old but under 16 years old who are too small to be restrained by a seatbelt properly adjusted and fastened are strongly recommended to use an approved booster seat. Children in booster seats must be restrained by a suitable lap and sash type approved seatbelt that is properly adjusted and fastened, or by a suitable approved child safety harness that is properly adjusted and fastened.

If your child is too small for the child restraint specified for their age, they should be kept in their current child restraint until it is safe for them to move to the next level.

If your child is too large for the child restraint specified for their age, they may move to the next level of child restraint.

Remember

Always use an Australian Standards approved child restraint. Using a restraint correctly greatly increases a child's safety during a crash. Placing a child in a restraint that is designed for a larger/older child increases the risk of serious injury in a crash. Don't carry your child in your arms. In a crash you won't be able to hold onto them and he or she will be thrown around the vehicle interior or thrown out of the vehicle. Never put a seatbelt around both yourself and a child on your lap. Children must never share a seatbelt. It is illegal. In NSW, it is illegal to use a child restraint in the front passenger seat of a vehicle if a passenger airbag is fitted. Ensure the restraint is installed correctly. See a restraint fitter if in doubt. To find your nearest RMS Authorised Fitting Station go to Authorised Restraint Fitting Station Always use the top tether strap where required. Teach your child to always keep both arms within the harness system of the child seat or the seat belt of the booster seat. When using a seat belt with a booster, ensure the seat belt is correctly fitted over the child's shoulder. Move your child into a forward-facing restraint only when they no longer fit into a rearward-facing restraint. Before moving to a forward-facing child seat, your child must be able to sit and easily hold their head upright. Move your child into a booster seat only when they no longer fit into a forward-facing restraint. Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions. Related Links Back to Listing