Understanding Child Restraints

Child restraint laws

When travelling in a motor vehicle in South Australia, all children under 16 years of age must be restrained in a suitable approved restraint that is properly adjusted and fastened.

The law is specific about what type of restraint is to be used at different ages and where children must be seated in a vehicle. The aim of these laws is to reduce the risk of injury caused by restraints that are unsuitable for a child's size.

The driver is responsible for ensuring all passengers are correctly restrained. Penalties include expiation fees and demerit points.

Children up to the age of 6 months

• Must use an approved rear-ward facing infant restraint.

• Must not travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has two or more rows of seats.

Children 6 months up to 4 years

• Must use either an approved rear-ward facing infant restraint or a forward-facing child safety seat with an inbuilt harness.

• Must not travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has two or more rows of seats.

Children 4 years up to 7 years

• Must use either an approved forward-facing child safety seat with an inbuilt harness, or a booster seat with a properly fastened and adjusted lap-sash seatbelt or child safety harness.

• Must not travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has two or more rows of seats, unless all the other seats are occupied by children who are also under 7 years.

Children 7 years up to 16 years

• Must use either an approved child restraint (a child safety seat or booster seat depending on their size), or a seatbelt that is properly adjusted and fastened.