With modern cars continuing to become ever safer, so have accessories such as child seats, the potentially life-saving importance of which has been highlighted in a horrific road incident in NSW this week.
Riverina Highway Patrol detailed the aftermath of a crash that occurred near Coolamon – approximately 500km south-west of Sydney – involving what appears to be a ute.
Though the vehicle’s front end was destroyed and its roof torn off, its three occupants escaped with little more than a few minor cuts.
In part, this was thanks to the child being correctly secured in their seat, which was attached to the car using ISOFIX anchors and a top tether strap.
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Credit: Traffic and Highway Patrol Command – NSW Police Force
In the aftermath of the collision, the New South Wales Police Force’s Traffic and Highway Command reiterated the state’s laws about child seats and how parents can have their safety devices secured and fitted.
“In NSW, children MUST be safely buckled in car seats that are correct for each child’s age and size:
- Children up to 6 months must be secured in an approved rearward facing child car seat.
- Children aged 6 months to 4 yrs old must be secured in either a rear or forward-facing approved child car seat with an inbuilt harness
- Children under 4 years old can’t travel in the front seat of a vehicle with 2 or more rows.
- Children aged 4-7 yrs old must be secured in a forward-facing approved child car seat with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat
- Children aged 4-7 yrs old can’t travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than 7 yrs in an approved child car seat or booster seat
- Children aged 7-16 yrs old who are too small to be properly restrained by a seatbelt are strongly recommended to use either a forward-facing seat with an in-built harness for older children, an approved booster seat, or an approved child safety harness together with the vehicle’s seatbelt.
- Children in booster seats must be restrained by a suitable lap and sash-type approved seatbelt that’s properly adjusted and fastened, or by a suitable approved child safety harness that’s properly adjusted and fastened.
An improperly secured child seat
“If you are unsure, there are authorised installation providers available in most locations that can check to make sure your car seat is installed correctly.
“Otherwise, pop in to your local Police station and a Highway Patrol Officer may be able to check them for you.”
MORE: ISOFIX: The child safety fix every parent needs to know about
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