QLD Laws
A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT TO QUEENSLAND CHILD SAFETY ROAD LAWS
On 10 September 2009, the Queensland Transport Minister Rachel Nolan announced adoption of the changes and an implementation timetable for Queensland.
The Queensland Government has announced that effective from 11 March 2010 that all Queensland children up to the age of 7 years will need to be secured in an approved restraint or booster seat when travelling in a vehicle.
So what are the changes announced in Queensland?
The Queensland changes to the road safety laws for approved, properly fastened and adjusted child restraints and booster seats are as follows:
- Children less than 6 months to be secured in a rear-facing child restraint;
- Children between 6 months and 4 years must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint or a forward-facing child restraint with an in-built harness;
- Children aged from 4 years must use a booster seat with a child-harness or a booster seat with a seat belt until they turn 7 years of age;
- From 7 years of age children can travel in a car secured in either:
- a booster seat;
- a booster seat and child harness;
- a seat belt and child harness; or
- the car's seat belt
The Queensland Road Safety Laws also require:
- Children under 4 years will not be allowed to travel in the front seat of a vehicle with 2 or more rows, even if the child is 3 years of age and large enough to sit in a booster;
- Children aged between 4 and less than 7 years will not be allowed to travel in the front seat of a vehicle with 2 or more rows, unless all other back seats are occupied by children under 7 years of age;
- Vehicles with only one row of seats are exempt from the requirement that the child must sit in the rear seat. A child of any age can travel in the front seat provided they are properly restrained. If an airbag is fitted then a rear facing child restraint must not be used.