Parents need to chose child restraints with care, warns RACQ
The RACQ's child restraint sales and advisory service handles more than 4000 phone inquiries a year on issues such as the legal requirements and correct selection, installation and use of child restraints.
The club’s child restraints advisory service co-ordinator, Debbie Spalding, said an RACQ survey conducted in 2006 found an alarming number of children were not properly restrained in motor vehicles.
“While the survey found children up to 11 months of age were appropriately restrained, in the one to three year age group only 57 percent were deemed to be appropriately restrained,” Ms Spalding said.
“The four to seven year age group was even worse, with only 25 percent appropriately restrained.
“The survey concluded that almost half the four to seven-year olds travelling in cars on Queensland roads are being transported dangerously and that one in three parents are mistakenly using adult seat belts to restrain toddlers -- a practice which can cause severe injuries to youngsters during a crash.
“We have seen no evidence that these figures have changed in the past two years.”
Ms Spalding said there were three main stages to follow in correctly choosing and using a child restraint:
1. From birth to a minimum of six months old and 8kg in weight a child must be placed facing the rear of the vehicle in an Australian Standard-approved seat with a five-point inbuilt harness. This may be extended to include a child up to 12kg depending on the restraint maker’s guidelines.
2 A child should be placed in an Australian Standard-approved child seat with a five-point inbuilt harness, facing forward, when they are up to 18kg in weight or are tall enough that their eyes are level with the top of the child seat back. Generally this would suit children up to about four years of age.
3. Children should be moved to a taller booster seat and continue using this until they are up to 26kg in weight, or when their eyes are level with the top of the back of the booster seat. As a guide, this would be a child up to around seven years of age.
Information and advice on car restraints is available from the RACQ on 1800 816 523 (outside Brisbane) or 3872 8926 within the Brisbane area. A fitting service is also offered by appointment at the RACQ offices at 300 St Paul’s Terrace, Fortitude Valley (phone 3872 8927).
In regional areas the RACQ Vehicle Inspection Service also offers fitting. However, this is limited to Safe-n-Sound brand seats. Appointments must be made directly with the regional vehicle inspectors in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Southport West and Toowoomba. The cost is $20 for members, or $25 or non-members. There is no cost for this service if the restraint is bought from the RACQ.
