Under Victoria’s child restraint road rules (effective since November 9, 2009), all children under 7 years of age must legally be seated in a correctly fitted child restraint or booster seat. All restraints sold in Victoria must comply with Australian Standard AS 1754.
Children under 6 months of age must:
Best practice recommendation:
Infants have relatively large heads and weak necks which put them at particularly high risk of serious injuries. It is best to keep children in their rear facing restraint until they reach the maximum size limit – rear facing restraints provide the required head and neck support that a child needs.
Children 6 months to 4 years of age must:
Best practice recommendation:
Keep children in their forward facing restraint with inbuilt harness until they reach the maximum size limit. Just because a child has turned 4 does not mean that they are ready to safely use a booster seat with an adult lap sash seatbelt.
Children 4 to 7 years of age must:
Best practice recommendation:
Different models of booster seat accommodate children up to different sizes, and some can fit children up until they can get good seat belt fit. When choosing a booster seat, look for one that will fit your child for as long as possible, especially if your child is tall for their age.
Children over 7 years of age must:
Best practice recommendation:
Children should continue to use a booster seat as long as possible, until they can fit properly into an adult seat belt. A good adult seat belt fit is generally not achieved before children are approximately 145cm tall, or 11-12 years of age.
For more information on Victoria’s child restraint road rules, visit our frequently asked questions section.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Copyright Kidsafe Victoria© 2022 — Designed by Business Jump Co | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS & CONDITIONS