When it comes to car safety, the rules of the road vary from state to state. In New South Wales, there are specific rules in place regarding when a child can sit in the front seat of a car. Understanding these regulations is key to ensuring your family’s safety while on the road.
NSW Requirements for Child Seating
The laws in New South Wales dictate that all children under the age of 7 must be properly restrained in an approved child restraint. This includes babies and toddlers, who must be secured in an approved baby capsule or child restraint.
For children aged from 7 to 16, they must be secured in an approved booster seat or other approved child restraint. If the car doesn’t have an anchor point for the restraint, the child must be secured with a seatbelt.
When Can a Child Sit in the Front Seat?
In New South Wales, children aged 7 and over can sit in the front seat of a car, provided they are secured in an approved booster seat or other approved child restraint. If the car doesn’t have an anchor point for the restraint, the child must be secured with a seatbelt.
It is important to note that children under the age of 4 should not be placed in the front seat of a car, even if they are secured in a booster seat or other approved child restraint. This is because the airbag in the front seat can be dangerous for young children.
When travelling with children in New South Wales, it is important to be aware of the laws regarding child seating. All children under the age of 7 must be properly secured in an approved child restraint, while children aged from 7 to 16 must be secured in an approved booster seat or other approved child restraint. Children under the age of 4 should always be seated in the back seat for their own safety. Following these regulations will help to ensure your family’s safety while on the road.
Parents of young children know how fast they grow. As their bodies and capabilities grow, so do their privileges. One such privilege is whether they can sit in the front seat of the car. The rules regarding when a child can sit in the front seat of a car vary from state to state. Here, we’ll cover when a child can sit in the front seat in New South Wales (NSW).
In New South Wales, a child can only sit in the front seat of a car when they are at least 12 years of age. Furthermore, the child must be at least 145cm in height, have access to an approved, age-appropriate booster seat, and must be wearing a properly-fitted seatbelt.
The New South Wales Centre for Road Safety strongly recommends that parents and carers do not allow a child to travel in the front seat until they are at least 16 years of age and 145cm in height. It is safest for children to remain in the rear seat until they are at least this age and height; an approved booster seat and seatbelt can help keep them as safe as possible.
If a child isn’t tall enough or isn’t old enough to sit in the front seat, the child must be fitted with an approved child restraint that matches their age, height, and weight. Once they’ve reached the required age and size, they should move to a booster seat to ensure they are securely and safely fastened with a seatbelt in the car.
To ensure the safety of your child, always ensure that they are correctly fastened into a child restraint system or a booster seat before travelling in the car. Following New South Wales legislation can help keep your child safe while on the roads.
References:
1. NSW Centre for Road Safety. (2020). Children in Cars. Retrieved from: https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/childrenincars.html
2. Transport for NSW. (2020). transporting children safely. Retrieved from: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/travel-info/ways-to-get-around/cars/transporting-children-safely
