| Child Occupant Safety |
| Child occupant safety is of crucial importance at holiday time, when motorists undertake longer drives than usual, so there are also some tips for keeping young travellers safe during the drive.
-The back seat is the safest place for children of any age. Where possible, install the child restraint in the centre rear position. -Where legally allowable, you may install a forward facing child seat in the front seat (without a side impact airbag), but always move the passenger seat as far back as possible. -Don't use a child restraint that's been subject to crash forces. The protective structure could be invisibly damaged. -Remember to use the child seat for all journeys, however short. A baby is not safe in your arms. Even in a minor crash, collision forces may tear the child from your grip. -Fit child restraints properly. Follow instructions and make sure the capsule or child seat is firmly fitted, with minimal sideways or forward movement on the car seat. -Every trip, make sure that the child restraint harness is properly adjusted, checking that only the thickness of two fingers can be inserted between the harness and the child's chest. -It's never safe to leave children in cars, particularly in summer when temperatures inside a closed car can quickly rise to over 60 degrees Celsius. Leaving windows open a little does not reduce the temperature enough. -Make sure you keep your child occupied on long journeys (with soft toys, music and stories on tape, CDs etc). A bored child can distract the driver, fiddle with buckles and wriggle out of position. -If you require assistance in fitment of child restraints, contact your local state roads authority or auto club such as NRMA and RACV. |