Child safety
Child restraints
Wyong Shire and Gosford City Councils' in partnership with the RTA and local RTA Authorised Fitting Stations, provide free child restraint checking days or if you are unable to make a checking day we can provide you with a voucher for a free child restraint check at a local fitting station.
Authorised fitters can ensure that your child’s restraint is correctly installed which greatly increases a child’s safety during a crash. Fitters can also advise you on the appropriate type of restraint for their age and size. By placing a child in a restraint that is designed for a larger/older child you increase the risk of serious injury in a crash.
Wyong Shire Councils next FREE child restraint checking days will be held on:
| Date: |
Friday 2 March 2012 |
| Time: |
8am to 10am |
| Location: |
Wyong Central Community Health Centre, 38A Pacific Highway (off River Road) Wyong |
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| Date: |
Saturday 24 March 2012 |
| Time: |
1.30pm to 4.00pm |
| Location: |
Long Jetty Community Health Centre, Wyong Rd Killarney Vale |
Contact Wyong Shire Council's Road Safety Officer Education on (02) 4350 5232 for additional information or a voucher.
For a list of RTA approved restraint fitting stations take a look at Mobility Engineering.
National child restraint laws - A summary of changes
National child restraint legislation has been introduced in NSW.
The national child restraint laws state:
- Children younger than six months must be secured in a rearward facing restraint.
- Children aged six months to under four years must be secured in either a rear or forward facing restraint.
- Children aged four years to under seven years must be secured in forward facing child restraint or booster seat.
- Children younger than four years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows.
- Children aged four years to under seven years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in a child restraint or booster seat.
0-6 months - Approved rearward-facing restraint
6 months - 4 years - Approved rearward or forward-facing restraint
4 years - 7 years - Approved forward-facing restraint or booster seat
Seatbelts
Seatbelts save lives. If the car in which you are travelling crashes you are 18 times more likely to die if you’re not wearing a seatbelt.
In NSW, the law requires all drivers to wear a seatbelt. See the RTA website for more information.
Safety Door
The ‘Safety Door’ is the rear left hand side door of the car. It is the rear door closest to the kerb, footpath or gutter and away from the road. In most situations the left hand rear door will be away from traffic and therefore the safest to enter and exit.
Safety Door Sticker
To remind children of which door they should use a safety door sticker can be attached to your cars window. The ‘Safety Door’ sticker should be on the left hand, rear window of the car. Families will help keep children safe by encouraging them to use this door consistently. Adults should always be there to help children enter and exit the car.