Crime Prevention & Community Safety

In a crash, most injuries to car occupants are caused by contact with the steering wheel, dashboard, windscreen and the car's roof and sides.

Seatbelts have proven to help prevent or limit these types of injuries in the majority of crashes. Research has shown that wearing a properly adjusted lap and shoulder seat belt reduces the risk of serious or fatal injury by half.

Even sudden braking or cornering can cause severe injuries to unrestrained passengers. Lap and shoulder belts should be available in all seating positions in the vehicle, including the centre rear seat.

Before driving off

Take a minute to ensure that all your passengers are wearing their seat restraints correctly.

It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that all children under 16 years of age are wearing an approved seat restraint. Help children learn about the importance of seatbelts by wearing yours on every trip, however short.

Child restraints

Drivers are responsible for making sure all passengers are wearing seat belts or child restraints correctly.

Everyone travelling in a motor vehicle must be restrained by using either a child restraint, a booster seat or an adult seat belt that is properly adjusted and fastened.

The type of restraint to be used depends on the person's age and size.

• Children under 6 months of age must travel in a rear facing child restraint.
• Children aged 6 months to under 4 years must travel in either a rear facing or forward facing child restraint.
• Children aged 4 years to under 7 years must travel in either a forward facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness, or a booster seat.
• Children aged 7 years to under 16 years must travel in either a booster seat or use an adult seatbelt.
• People 16 years and over must be restrained by an adult seat belt.
   

Visit the VicRoads website for more information on selecting the right child restraint.