Comments on: New Rules For Child Restraints In Victoria

By: flowingink

flowingink — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:13:06 +0000

I had no idea how important it was to keep little ones in rear-facing car seats for as long as possible. I’ve just read that over a seven year period half of the children who died in accidents where front facing “booster” seats were used could have been saved had they been using rear-facing seats! That is just shocking. Here is a great website for carseat info http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/ plus here is the site with the details of the research http://www.keepmedriving.com/ – worth a read!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:25:54 +0000

Great info! I must confirm what the situation is in NSW. I do a preschool run and my 4yo son is in a booster with an ordinary seatbelt when I do that... he is over 18kg and quite tall but I am not sure if, for his age, he should still be in a harness style. I'll struggle to fit 3 of these across the back of my car but of course, safety comes first. I too cringe when I see smallies in the front seat - and I see it quite regularly! Michelles last blog post..Money in his pocket.

By: Marita

Marita — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:53:00 +0000

“I am quite happy with the rule changes. I am generally on the more cautious side with child restraints and find my kids complain “that no one else sits in one”. Now I have the law on my side!”

AMEN!

I’m so relieved to see the rules change. Safety should be paramount and I cringe when I see young children in the front seat or without a car seat.

My only concern is that my 4yo is so tall she has grown out of her booster seat. It took some looking around but we found a model that was suitable for her current height. At 4yo she is taller than most 6yo’s and she still has 3 years left in a booster seat. Hopefully her growth will slow down because I’m not sure what we will do if she gets much taller.

The new rules based on age are much easier to follow and make a great deal of sense but the height issue is a problem.

By: harmzie

harmzie — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:35:57 +0000

I’m a bit of a safety nut-job when it comes to things like this (also: bike helmets) so I’m happy to see regulations tightened up in this arena. Canada has some pretty firm car-seat laws.

What I’d *really* like to see is the enforcement and punitive measures advanced. This would not be to hassleparents driving their cars around. This would be to protect my kids when they’re in *another* adult’s car.

Think of it: I can hammer it into my kids’ heads “always wear your seatbelt/booster” “if you have to go in a car where there’s no seat-belt, or someone says ‘don’t bother’, call me IMMEDIATELY” etc. But as soon as a friend’s parent says “meh, it’s stuck behind the seat, we’re only goint a block”, do you think they’re going to make a stink? It’s happened twice to my kids and it makes my stomach all knotty!

harmzies last blog post..10/07/02 12:45 – 7#7 – XX

By: PlanningQueen

PlanningQueen — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:03:48 +0000

Alison – Uncool is definitely the better option.

Leanne – I know. My 10 year old has only been in the front seat a couple of times, when there has been no other seat left in the car.

By: Leanne

Leanne — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:03:05 +0000

I'm with you - safety is paramount. I cringe every time I see little preppies or even kinder kids jump in the front seat (sometimes with seatbelt, sometimes not!). Leannes last blog post..The Inaugural Trip – Toora Tourist Park

By: Alison

Alison — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:15:11 +0000

Fantastic information here. And what a fantastic gift to give your children – safety! It might mean they’re ‘uncool’ to some, but it might also mean they live.
Thanks for making your seconds count

Alisons last blog post..One Second for Parents