Australia formally legislated as early as 1985 to require children to use child safety seats by car. 1985 / 1990, among children who had been in a car accident, Seventy-one per cent of children avoided fatal injuries by properly using child car seats that had been tested for safety. Manufacturers also found that children who died in a car crash could have survived more than half if they had used child safety seats.
Australian states have essentially the same rules for children to ride, as illustrated here in Victoria.
- Up to six months: face-to-back child safety seats must be used;
- 6 months to 4 years of age: child safety seats must be used face-to-back; or front-facing seats with built-in safety constraints;
- 4 to 7 years of age: must use a front-facing seat with built-in safety constraints, or an elevated seat with a car seat belt;
- From 7 to 16 years of age: use an elevated seat cushion with a car seat belt, or use a car seat belt directly for adults;
Frequently asked questions:
1, can I take the front row?
- Under 4 years of age, can not sit in the front row;
- From 4 to 7 years old, if the back row is full of children under 7 years of age, you can sit in the front row (some states stipulate that the back row children must be smaller than the front row);
- Over 7 years of age, allowed but not recommended. The single-row car can sit in the front row, but the safety seat is required to specify the same as above.
2, are you allowed to use oversea seats or elevated seats?
Not allowed.
3, do you need to use child seat by taxi?
- Children under the age of 1 don't need a seat, but they have to sit in the back row (meaning you can hold your hand, but you have to sit in the back row).
- Children over the age of 1 may be exempted from the use of safety seats, but must occupy a separate seat and fasten their seat belts.
4, do you need children's seats by bus?
Buses are exempt. Here buses refer to vehicles above 12 seats (including drivers).