New seat laws for children
The Age
Friday May 29, 2009
NEW national laws designed to improve child safety in cars will apply in Victoria from November.Roads Minister Tim Pallas said yesterday that from November9, children under seven would be required to wear approved restraints or sit in booster seats.Children under seven would also no longer be allowed to sit in the front seat, unless all the other seats were taken up by other children under seven. Children under four would not be allowed to sit in the front."Seating children aged four to seven years old in an appropriate booster seat reduces their risk of injury in a crash by almost 60per cent," MrPallas said.He said children also had a 40per cent higher risk of injury in a crash when sitting in the front seat.He said there was no change to the approved types of booster seats and restraints for children.Drivers who do not comply face fines of up to $255 and the loss of three demerit points.On average, nearly 300 children under seven were killed or injured in road accidents in Victoria each year, Mr Pallas said. -- SARAH-JANE COLLINS
© 2009 The Age
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