Road Safety

Children are at significant risk of road injuries in Australia, with transport-related injuries one of the leading causes of death in children under the age of 15. The road setting poses a number of injury risks, particularly to children.

Road injuries often involve motor vehicles but may also involve motorcyclists, pedestrians, cyclists, and wheeled pedestrians. The road setting is not limited to traffic areas on public roads and carparks, but also settings such as driveways, farm areas, nature reserves and skate parks.

The Road Safety Program includes a Child Car Restraint Service offering fitting, checking, hiring and advice appointments. As well as education and resources to assist parents, carers, and professionals to keep children safe on the road.

The road safety services at Kidsafe WA are supported by Britax.

Workshops

Baby Safety Seminars provide expectant parents with information on safety considerations when preparing for baby’s arrival. The session provides an overview of childhood injuries, home safety tips, a child car restraint fitting demonstration and a tour of Kidsafe WA’s Safety Demonstration House. These sessions are supported by Britax.

The information session addresses the most common questions asked by parents and carers on passenger safety. The session runs for approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour.

This 3-hour professional development workshop provides a 1-hour child car restraint update presentation and a 2-hour practical skills session.

This one-day accredited training course is suitable for Child Care, Family Day Care, or anyone who has to transport children as part of their job role who use a specific fleet of vehicles and limited makes & models of restraints.

This two-day accredited training course is suitable for individuals who wish to become a nationally recognised Type 1 Child Car Restraint Installer.

Child Car Restraint Guidelines

In Western Australia, the leading cause of death and the third most frequent cause of hospitalisation for children aged 0-14 years is transport-related injury. Motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common causes of transport-related injuries for children. Children as passengers in a vehicle should be seated in the most appropriate child car restraint for their age and size. To provide the best protection for your child in a motor vehicle, follow these simple steps:

  • Buckle up every child on every trip. 
  • Ensure you use a correctly fitted child car restraint most appropriate for your child’s age and size.
  • All child car restraints must meet the Australian Standards AS/NZS 1754.
  • Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using your child car restraint.
  • If you are using a second-hand child car restraint, ensure you know the history of the restraint and that it is less than 10 years of age and has not been involved in a car accident.
  • Child car restraints must be installed in the second row of seats in a vehicle. For further information, please contact Kidsafe WA.
  • Ensure your child has exceeded the maximum size limits of the restraint before progressing to the next stage.
Children Under 6 Months of Age

Must use an approved child restraint that is:

  • rearward facing
  • properly fitted to the vehicle
  • adjusted to fit the child’s body correctly
  • Must not travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has a back row/s of seats.

Best Practice Recommendations

Keep your baby in a rearward-facing child car restraint until they have reached the maximum size limits and can sit by themselves on the floor with no support.

Children 6 Months to 4 Years of Age

Must use EITHER an approved:

  • rearward facing child restraint, OR
  • a forward-facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness
  • properly fitted to the vehicle
  • adjusted to fit the child’s body correctly
  • must not travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has a back row/s of seats.

Best Practice Recommendations

Keep your child in a forward-facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness until the child reaches the maximum size limit of the restraint before progressing to the next stage.

Children 4 to 7 Years of Age

Must use EITHER an approved:

  • forward-facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness, OR
  • booster seat with a properly fastened and adjusted seatbelt or child harness
  • must not travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has a back row/s of seats unless all the other back seats are occupied by children who are also under 7 years of age.

Best Practice Recommendations

Keep your child in a child car restraint until they reach the maximum size limit of the restraint.

Children Over 7 Years of Age

Recommended to use an approved:

  • forward-facing child car restraint with an inbuilt harness OR
  • dedicated booster seat using the vehicle’s lap sash seat belt.

Best Practice Recommendations

Check to see if they can safely use an adult seatbelt or if a booster seat is still needed, even if they have turned 7 years of age.

If your child has outgrown the child car restraint with the inbuilt harness or the dedicated booster seat, please carry out the ‘five-step test’ to ensure your child is ready to comfortably sit with an adult seatbelt. 

Although a child aged over 7 can legally ride in the front passenger seat of a vehicle with two or more rows of seats, it is recommended that children under 12 years of age always use the rear seats first.

NeuRA and Kidsafe want to see all children as safe as possible when travelling in cars. Ensuring that parents receive straightforward, consistent advice from all sources on how to keep children safe in cars is an important step in making this happen.

The 2021 edition of the National Child Car Restraint Guidelines has been released. To find out more information on the changes and additional resources please click here.

If you would like to speak to someone about child car restraints please contact Kidsafe WA on 08 6244 4880.

Kidsafe WA has a range of child car restraints available for purchase at our centre and through our online shop. To view our range please click here.

Child Car Restraint Fitting, Checking & Advice Service

Kidsafe WA offers a cost-effective service for those who require assistance with installing a child car restraint or would like the installation of the restraint checked.

** All Child Car Restraint Services are by appointment only. Please call Kidsafe WA or book online for all bookings **

Checking previously installed child car seats: $35.00

Conversion of restraint either from rearward or forward facing: $35.00
*Children under 18 months of age must be present for conversion of restraints from rearward to forward facing.

Fitting your child car seat: $45.00

Mobile Service: $60 call-out fee plus the price of a standard service ($45 for a fit and $35 for a check/conversion).

Advice Appointment: $60.00

NB: Accessories such as extension straps and Anchor bolts are an additional cost. 

Kidsafe WA 
140 Railway Parade, West Leederville 6007
Monday to Friday and 9 am – 12 pm Saturday

Blue Gum Community Centre (33 Moolyeen Road, Brentwood 6153)
Brentwood – Tuesday 9.30am – 12.30pm
* Please note: This service will be offered fortnightly from 13th February 2024.

Bunnings
Joondalup – Tuesdays 1.30pm – 4.30pm

Mindarie – Tuesdays 9.30am – 12.30pm
* Please note: This service will be offered fortnightly from 20th February 2024.

Mobile Service
Location of your choice within the metropolitan area

Bookings are Essential and can be made by contacting Kidsafe WA on (08) 6244 4880.

To view/edit existing appointments, click here to log in.

Please note that all Advice and Mobile appointments can not be made online. Please call on (08) 6244 4880 to organise these appointments.

Kidsafe WA offers one-hour advice appointments to parents who are attempting to fit multiple children into a single vehicle. During the appointment, our qualified child car restraint installers will have a look at which restraints work best in your car and how to position them for ease of access and ease of use while considering the safety implications of decisions. We also take into consideration the immediate and the long-term restraining requirements of each child to be transported in the vehicle, to try and allow for a cost effective solutions for parents and carers. 

Kidsafe WA can also provide assistance for parents of children with special needs or medical complications that require special consideration for safe transport.

Child Car Restraint Hiring Service

Kidsafe WA has a range of infant carriers, convertibles, combination restraints and booster seats available for hire. These restraints can be hired from our Kidsafe Centre.

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIALS, and to ensure availability, it is advised that you provide us with a minimum of 2 months’ notice.

All seats require a deposit of $80.00.

Baby Capsules available for hire: Britax Safe-n-Sound Unity and Maxi-Cosi Mico (AP & Plus)

Deposit $80.00
1 month$80.00
3 months $140.00
6 months $180.00
To extend hire – additional fee $30.00 per month
Deposit $30.00
1 month $40.00
3 months $60.00
6 months $80.00
To extend hire – additional fee $20.00 per month
Deposit $80.00
1 week $60.00
2 weeks $70.00
3 weeks $80.00
1 month (4 weeks) $90.00
2 months $110.00
3 months (13 weeks) $130.00
To extend hire – additional fee $30.00 per month

All restraint hire charges include a refundable deposit.

The minimum hire charge is one week (if the hire is required for less than 7 days).

Hire charges are calculated in 1-week units for hires less than 1 month and in monthly units for hire between 2 and 6 months. Charges for these time periods are for the specified length of time or part thereof.

To make a booking to hire a child car restraint, call the centre on (08) 6244 4880.

Child Car Restraint Hire Booking Request Form

If you would like to book a child restraint for hire please fill out the details below and we will contact you regarding availability.

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Hot Cars Campaign

Every year, approximately 5,000 Australian children are rescued from cars. Three-quarters of those children are under four years old. Even on a cool day, the temperature in a parked car can be over 30 degrees hotter than outside. In fact, 75% of the total temperature rise can occur within the first five minutes of parking a car.        

Kidsafe WA’s ‘Do Not Leave Children in Cars’ campaign aims to raise community awareness and reduce the number of children left unattended in parked cars in Western Australia.

Kidsafe WA has designed car park signs that can be purchased by organisations. These are ideally suited for car parks at parks, recreation centres, community centres, libraries, beaches, swimming pools, entertainment venues, shopping complexes and schools. The signs can be installed to remind community members to take their children with them.

Car park signs can be ordered through this order form and will take approximately 2 – 3 weeks to manufacture once payment has been made.

Your organisation must provide a high-resolution PDF/PNG of your logo for inclusion on the signage, as they will be co-branded with Kidsafe WA and your logo. Your organisation is responsible for choosing the location for the signs and installing them. The signs can be affixed directly to gates and walls or mounted on a sign pole. 

Kidsafe WA will also provide social media content, a newsletter article, website content and a media release template to assist your organisation in promoting the signs. We will also provide regular updates, including statistics, resources and information which can be utilised by your organisation.

  • 1 sign = $150.00+GST
  • Please contact us for a quote for multiple signs.
  • Kidsafe WA will send a Tax Invoice once your order has been completed and delivery costs are finalised.

*Please note postage charges will apply for the delivery of signs, with signs taking approximately 2-3 weeks to manufacture once payment has been made.

Car park signs are 45cm long and 30cm wide.

Funds generated from the sale of the car park signs will assist Kidsafe WA to further develop the ‘Do Not Leave Children in Cars’ campaign.

To order a sign, fill out the below form. For more information please contact kirralee@kidsafewa.com.au.

Videos

Kidsafe Australia, with the support of NRMA Insurance and SGIO, has developed the ‘Make Passenger Safety a Priority’ animation to reduce the risk of injury to children whilst travelling in your car.

Kidsafe has teamed up with Scrat from Ice Age and former Wallabies player Brendan Cannon, to teach kids how to be safe on, near and around our roads.

Every year across Australia, over 5,000 kids are left unattended in cars. To prove just how hot the sun makes a parked car, renowned chef Matt Moran literally cooked a meal in one.

Kidsafe Australia, with the support of NRMA Insurance and SGIO, has developed the ‘Make Passenger Safety a Priority’ animation to reduce the risk of injury to children whilst travelling in your car.

Kidsafe Australia, with the support of NRMA Insurance and SGIO, has developed the ‘Make Passenger Safety a Priority’ animation to reduce the risk of injury to children whilst travelling in your car.

Kidsafe Australia, with the support of NRMA Insurance and SGIO, has developed the ‘Make Passenger Safety a Priority’ animation to reduce the risk of injury to children whilst travelling in your car.

Resources

Road Safety Resources

Top 10 Tips for Safer Travel
Top 10 Tips for Safer Travel
Download
Using Child Car Restraints (A3)
PosterUsing Child Car Restraints (A3)
Download
Road Service Brochure
BrochureRoad Service Brochure
Download
Child Car Restraint Services
PosterChild Car Restraint Services
Download
Child Restraint Guidelines
GuideChild Restraint Guidelines
Download
Parent's Guide to Kidsafe Roads
BookletParent’s Guide to Kidsafe Roads
Download
Small Wheeled Devices
Fact SheetSmall Wheeled Devices
Download
Pedestrian Safety
Fact SheetPedestrian Safety
Download
Hot Cars
Fact SheetHot Cars
Download
Child Car Restraints
Fact SheetChild Car Restraints
Download
Bicycle Safety
Fact SheetBicycle Safety
Download

    Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Resources

    CaLD Keeping Kids Safe Brochure
    BrochureCaLD Keeping Kids Safe Brochure
    Download
    CaLD Home Safety Checklist
    PosterCaLD Home Safety Checklist
    Download
    CaLD Using Child Car Restraints
    PosterCaLD Using Child Car Restraints
    Download
    Home Safety Checklist - Vietnamese
    Fact SheetHome Safety Checklist – Vietnamese
    Download
    Home Safety Checklist - Traditional Chinese
    Fact SheetHome Safety Checklist – Traditional Chinese
    Download
    Home Safety Checklist - Simplified Chinese
    Fact SheetHome Safety Checklist – Simplified Chinese
    Download
    Home Safety Checklist - Korean
    Fact SheetHome Safety Checklist – Korean
    Download
    Home Safety Checklist - Arabic
    Fact SheetHome Safety Checklist – Arabic
    Download

      Common Child Car Restraint Installation Errors

      Need help with your child car restraint installation and can’t get to Kidsafe WA? We’re here to help!
      The following videos identify common installation errors we find and how to correct them to ensure your child travels safely.

      These videos were made possible through the support of Lotterywest.

      For more information about child car restraints, check out the guidelines. For more information about fittings, check out our services or contact us.


      In this instalment, we show you common mistakes regarding installing the top tether strap and how to fix them!

      A common error we find is with the ISOFIX attachments. This video will help you ensure it is correctly installed.

      Did you know that some child car restraints may require angular adjustments? Watch on to find out how to adjust the angle of your seats. We always recommend checking your user manual to ensure the correct method is used for your child car restraint.

      Seatbelt pathways can be confusing. This video will teach you how to identify the correct path for your configuration.

      When altering your child car restraints harness and headrest, it’s always good practice to check they are aligned correctly. This video will help you identify alignment errors and how to correct them.

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