Allan,
What state are you in, as the laws are different in each, except when it comes to children in the vehicle.
This is the info for WA
Seat Belts
Wearing a seat belt is one of easiest ways of protecting drivers and passengers when travelling in a vehicle. Every year about 40 people are killed in road crashes because they were not wearing a seat belt. Seat belts prevent vehicle occupants from being ejected from a vehicle, they reduce the time taken to come to a stop in a crash (hence reducing impact forces), spread the impact force over a greater area of the body and minimise contact of occupants with a vehicle�s interior.
New laws will come into effect on 1 October 2010, which will see new rules for the restraint of children and adults. These amendments follow those made at the national level under Australian Road Rules.
From 1 October 2010 onwards, only passengers that are sitting in a seat that is fitted with a seat belt or child restraint fastened properly will be permitted to be carried in the vehicle. No additional unrestrained passengers will be permitted and passengers can not share the same seat.
While there have been rules prohibiting the carriage of unrestrained passengers in the backs of utes, trucks and panel vans since 2006, there have been no restrictions in the case of more passengers in the main body of the vehicle than available seat belted positions.
So the law now states that motor vehicle drivers and passengers must sit in a seat that has a restraint available and they must have the seat belt or restraint fastened and worn correctly. Passengers are not allowed to travel in the back of trucks, utes or panel vans, unless there are approved seat belts provided.
This information is a guide only and should not be relied on for legal purposes. Full details of traffic offences and penalties are contained in the Road Traffic Code 2000. Copies can be viewed at the Library and Information Service of Western Australia and are available at the State Law Publisher website (http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/).
Child Car Restraints
On 1 October 2010 new laws will be introduced that will see a raft of new rules for the restraint of children in vehicles. For your child�s safety, all parents and carers are urged to begin complying with the new laws as soon as possible.
The new laws will reduce the risk of injury caused by the use of unsuitable restraints for a child�s size by specifying the type of restraint to be used at different ages and where children must be seated in a vehicle.
The new laws will require children from:
� birth to under 6 months to be restrained in a rearward facing child restraint (e.g. infant capsule);
� 6 months to under 4 years to be restrained in either a rearward or forward facing child restraint with in-built harness; and
� 4 years to under 7 years to be restrained in either a forward facing child restraint with in-built harness or booster seat restrained by a correctly adjusted and fastened seat belt or child safety harness.
Also, children under 4 years will not be allowed to sit in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows of seats, and those from 4 years to under 7 years will only be allowed to sit in the front seats if all rear seats are occupied by children less than 7 years of age.
Children 7 years and over can continue to be restrained in an adult seat belt, as the law currently permits.
Carpe Diem
Edited by user Monday, 8 November 2010 8:27:43 PM(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified
