Child restraint law changes
In June 2018, new laws came into play about transporting children in WA. These introduce new responsibilities including:
Children aged between four and seven must be secured in a booster seat and restrained by either:
- A lap and sash seat belt that is properly adjusted and fitted
- A lap only type seat belt and (in relation to the upper body of the passenger) a child safety harness, each of which is properly adjusted and fastened.
This aligns with Australian Standards which requires a booster seat to be used together with either an approved seat belt comprising a lap and sash belt or an approved child safety harness.
Taxi drivers are now responsible for ensuring that children aged between one and seven are restrained as safely as possible in standard adult seat-belts if:
- there is no suitable approved child seat available in the taxi for the passenger
- the child passenger is not in the front row of seats where the taxi has two or more rows of seats.
Taxi drivers and on demand transport drivers are now responsible for ensuring passengers aged one to seven are restrained with adult seatbelts that are:
- properly adjusted
- securely fastened to the best extent possible given the height and weight of the passengers.
Under the new legislation, parents may bring infants with them if their vehicle is towed.
Children aged under one can be held on a lap or restrained in a seat, according to the judgment of their caregiver.
Children aged between one and seven cannot be transported in a tow truck unless a child car seat is available. Parents must make alternate arrangements.