In Queensland, as in most Australian states, children aged seven and below must be correctly fitted in an approved child car seat or child restraint. If it’s your first time, you may be unaware of various child restraint laws and the booster seat age. Let’s look at the car seat rules that help ensure child safety in Queensland vehicles.
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QLD Seat Belt Laws
The driver is accountable for the safety of all passengers, regardless of age, including vehicle seat belts and the appropriate use of child car seats and restraints. Failure to do this may incur substantial fines and demerit points. A passenger over 16 can also be penalised for not wearing a seat belt. For example, if a passenger over the age of sixteen is not wearing a seat belt, they and the driver can be fined.
Speciality motor vehicles, such as vintage cars, may be excluded from these rules, so they may not be required to have seatbelts and child restraint anchor points. However, these motor vehicles can only carry appropriately restrained children.
Private-hire cars have the same laws as regular motor vehicles. Hiring companies will loan child restraints on request, but these restraints may require an extra fee.
For exemptions to the seat belt laws, view Section 267 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995.
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Child Restraint Guidelines
Although you would normally use a child’s age to determine the type of approved child restraint, their height may also be a factor.
Babies Under 6 Months Old
Babies younger than six months must be secured in a properly fastened and approved rear-facing restraint. They should travel with this restraint until they are no longer fit.
Children and Babies Between 6 months and 4 Years of Age
Children and babies between 6 months and 4 years old cannot sit in the front seat and must travel in a properly fastened and approved child restraint. They can be seated in a forward or rear-facing child restraint.
Children Between 4 and 7 Years of Age
- Children between 4 and 7 can sit in a forward-facing child restraint or forward-facing restraint that is properly adjusted and securely fastened.
- Or an approved booster anchored with an adult lap sash seatbelt
Children Age 7 and Older
- Children over seven years old can sit in a forward-facing seat using an adult seat belt or
- An approved booster seat secured with an adult lap sash seatbelt
Note: When properly restrained, it is recommended that all children younger than 12 sit in the backseat of the car.
Types of Child Restraints
In Queensland, several types of child restraints are designed to cater to different age groups and sizes, ensuring the utmost safety for young passengers. Here’s a breakdown of the main types:
- Rear-facing child restraints: are the safest option for babies from birth to 6 months old. They provide crucial support for a baby’s head, neck, and spine during travel.
- Forward-facing child restraints: These restraints are suitable for children from 6 months to 4 years old and come with a built-in harness to secure the child properly.
- Booster seats: Designed for children from 4 to 7 years old, booster seats are used with an adult seatbelt to ensure the seatbelt fits correctly over the child’s body.
- Approved booster seats: These are also for children from 4 to 7 years old but are specifically secured with an adult lap-sash seatbelt for added safety.
Choosing a child restraint that meets the Australian Standard (AS) and is suitable for your child’s age and size is essential. Ensuring your child is in the correct restraint can significantly reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident.
About Approved Child Restraints
Approved Child restraints in Australia must carry the Australian Standards mark to ensure they have been manufactured according to Australian and New Zealand standards. Otherwise, they cannot be legally used.
All child restraints sold in Australia will have a date mark. If you cannot find the date mark, contact the manufacturer. We advise against the use of restraints that are more than ten years old.
You should not use child restraints purchased overseas unless they are AS/NZS 1754 compliant.
What is the Penalty for Failing to Use an Approved Child Restraint?
You risk a fine of $1,161 and four demerit points for each child who is not secured in an approved car restraint that is properly fastened and adjusted.
If you commit a second or subsequent child restraint offence within a year of the initial offence, you will receive double demerit points.
Fitting and Installation
Proper fitting and installing a child restraint is crucial to ensuring your child’s safety while travelling in a vehicle. Here are some essential tips to follow:
- Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions: Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines for installation and use.
- Ensure the restraint is fastened correctly: The child restraint should be snugly adjusted to fit your child, preventing excessive movement.
- Locate the anchor points: Check your vehicle owner’s manual to find the anchor points where the restraint should be secured.
- Consider professional fitting: For added peace of mind, have Kidsafe or an RACQ Vehicle Inspection Station professionally fit or check the restraint.
- Avoid using damaged restraints: Never use a child restraint that has been damaged or is past its expiration date, as it may not provide adequate protection.
Children in Front Seats
Children younger than seven must not sit in the front seat if a vehicle has two or more rows. However, even if the front passenger seat is the only one with a vehicle seatbelt, they may use it if all other seats are filled with kids their age or younger.
Once they are seven or older, kids can use an adult seatbelt or an approved booster seat with an adult seat belt to restrain them in the front seat.
Child Height for Booster Seat
In Queensland, it is recommended that a child use an approved booster seat until their height exceeds 145cm. On average, children reach this height at 11 years of age. Alternately, they can be seated in an approved child safety harness.
Do Booster Seats Need to Be Anchored QLD?
If you are using an approved booster seat (according to Australian standards), it must be secured with two anchor points.
- An adult lap sash seatbelt
- The top tether that connects with a child restraint anchor point
Sadly, a lot of Australians who install their booster seats do it wrong, which puts their child at risk of serious injury.
When Can I Change From Booster Seats to Regular Car Seats
The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads recommends the five-step test for deciding when to change your child from an approved booster seat to a regular car seat with an adult seatbelt. They can make this change when they pass these five questions:
- Is your child able to sit with 100% of their back against the car seat?
- Can your child’s knees safely hang over the edge of the vehicle seat?
- Is the lap belt sitting low, touching their thighs and across their hips?
- Does the sash belt cross the shoulder in the middle?
- Can your child stay seated in this manner until the end of your journey?
Rules for Taxis, Uber and Rideshares
Taxis and rideshares like Uber are where the laws get more challenging. These vehicles are not required to supply child restraints or booster seats. However, they must have anchor points to secure these devices.
Children can ride in Ubers, taxis and rideshare vehicles; but children 12 months and under should sit on the lap of someone aged 16 or over. However, they must not share the seatbelt. Meanwhile, children over 12 months old should be restrained with an adult seat belt if proper restraints are unavailable.
Bus Passenger Restraints
Buses are only required to have seatbelts if they have 13 or more rows. Buses with fewer than 13 rows must have seat belts and anchors for child restraints. If a larger bus has seatbelts, it should use them.
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Car Seat Rules FAQs
What age do you go from car seat to booster?
A child can move from car seat to booster when their shoulders are higher than the car seat’s lower shoulder height indicator, which is usually 4 years of age.
At what age do kids not need a car seat?
Children over seven years of age can sit in a standard seat with an adult seatbelt or an approved booster seat.
What is the booster seat height requirement?
Children should use an approved booster seat until they reach 145cm in height.
Can you take a baby in an Uber in Queensland?
Yes, you can take a baby in an Uber, but it’s recommended to use an approved child restraint for their age.
At what age can a child stop using a booster seat in Quuensland?
Children can stop using a booster seat when they reach 145cm in height or are seven years old.
Can you take a baby in a taxi in Queensland?
Yes, babies can travel in Queensland taxis, but it is recommended that they use an approved child restraint for their age.