The 2013 Car Seat Safety Survey conducted by Britax Australia (manufacturer of Safe-n-Sound car seats) found that while safety is the primary concern for 54% of parents when purchasing child restraints, over half of Australian parents are confused as to when their child should graduate from their child restraint to the vehicles seat.
Of the survey respondents who let their children travel in the vehicle seat (1.7%) secured only by a seat belt, worryingly over half are children aged between four to six years (53%). Current Australian Road Rules require a child to be restrained in a compliant car seat until they are at least seven years old.
Managing Director of Britax Australia, Maurice McGrath, says “Australian law dictates children must remain restrained in a forward-facing booster seat until they are at least seven years old. Our research indicates that of the 1.7% of children who are allowed to travel in the vehicle seat with just a seat belt, over 50% are aged between four to six years – while this may seem like a small percentage it is still far too many. We are calling on all parents to make this figure 0%.
“In addition, given the differing size of children, many seven year olds are not yet tall enough to move into the vehicle seat once they reach the legal age to do so, it then becomes a decision that parents need to make at their own discretion to ensure their child is travelling safely.”
The Survey highlighted that some parents are not aware of the signals that indicate a child is not ready to graduate to the vehicle seat. The following signs were observed by parents who allowed their children (aged seven years and under) to travel in the vehicle seat only restrained by the car seat belt:
- the child slumps in the seat and the lap belt sits across their abdomen (23.5%)
- the seat belt crosses across their child’s face or neck (23.5%)
- child wriggles and slumps during the journey (23.5%)
70 per cent of parents agree that most booster seats don’t cater for children over seven years old and the majority of respondents (82%) agreed that the use of child restraints should be based on the size of the child and not their age.
McGrath says, “As the research indicated more and more parents want to keep their child restrained for longer but have been unable to find a product solution. This insight led to the development of the new Safe-n-Sound Encore 10™, designed to fit approximately 95% of 10 year olds and approximately 50% of 12 year olds. Providing parents with the choice to keep their child secured for longer.”
