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Child Safety In and Around Cars

Children die and are seriously injured in and around cars each year. We’ve compiled the following tips to help protect your children when it comes to cars.

Top Safety Tips

1.  Never leave children unattended in a car.  Children can suffer from heat stroke in a shorter time frame than adults and children can cause the car to move by releasing the hand brake.

2.  Make sure that no one is behind the car when reversing. Even when you have reverse parking sensors and a reverse parking camera, always look to the left and right as a person may appear from nowhere on a bike or fast moving object.

3.  Never leave the car idling in a closed space like a garage due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

4.  Always keep an eye on your children while washing a car. A child can drown in something as small as a bucket.

5.  Always lock your car and keep the key out of reach of children.

6.  Teach your children from an early age not to play in and around your car.

7.  When at a shopping centre car park, always put your children in the car before your shopping.

Child Restraints

Children must always be suitably restrained in a car. There are safe ways of restraining your child dependent on age (weight and height are the most important factors).

Some vehicles have a centre sash belt which is less safe than a 3 point seat belt. Use this type where possible.

1.  Always use a child restraint that has been approved by the Australian Standards.

2.  Ensure that the restraint is fitted properly. According to the RTA 80% of child restraints   are not fitted properly. Always follow instructions or use an authorised fitting station.

3.  Make sure that the seat belts are fitted correctly. Teach your child not to slip the belt under their arm. Always have a good amount of tension, don’t have the seat belt too lose as a child can slip out in a collision.

4.  Never fit a child restraint in the front passenger seat when an air bag is functional.  For more information on child restraints click here.

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