Child Restraints
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FREE Child Restraint Safety Checks
Leichhardt Council in cooperation with the RTA provides regular FREE child restraint checks by RTA Authorised Restraint Fitters to ensure that our youngest residents are correctly secured in car restraints.
Past experience has shown that more than 90% of people that have had their child restraints checked for correct installation have found that the restraints were not fitted correctly. Unless restraints are installed and used correctly they may not do the job they are meant to... save lives!
You can have your child are restraints, harnesses and booster seats checked for safety and correct fit, free of charge, as part of an initiative of Leichhardt Council's Road Safety Program.
The next five free Child Restraint Safety Check Session will be held on
| | 1. Tuesday | 6th September | 10am - 1pm | MarketPlace, Leichhardt |
| | 2. Tuesday | 11th October | 10am - 1pm | MarketPlace, Leichhardt |
| | 3. Tuesday | 15th November | 10am - 1pm | Leichhardt Family Day Care |
| | 4. Tuesday | 6th March | 10am - 1pm | MarketPlace, Leichhardt |
| | 5. Tuesday | 10th April | 10am - 1pm | MarketPlace, Leichhardt |
Bookings are essential.
Please contact Council's Road Safety and Sustainable Transport Officer on 9367 9000 or email rso@lmc.nsw.gov.au.
In certain circumstances residents who are not able to take advantage of the service provided on the day can contact Council's Road Safety Officer to receive a voucher to redeem their free child restraint fitting and checking service from a local authorised child restraint fitter - Leichhardt Automotove Services. The current child restraint safety campaign is running until Saturday 30 June 2012.
If you do not live in the Leichhardt Council area, please click on the following link to find your nearest RTA approved restraint fitting station or contact your Road Safety Officer at your local Council for more information - 
RTA Authorised Restraint Fitting Stations Oct 2010 98I (339.54kB)
Important points about restraints
Children are more likely to be severely injured if they are not using an appropriate child restraint, or if the restraint is not properly fitted. It is important that:
- Each child restraint suits your child's weight and size. Children grow at different rates, so your child's weight and size are much more important than your child's age.
- Continue to use a suitable child restraint for as long as they fit your child. Do not move your child from one type of restraint to the next before they have reached the top of the weight or height range of the restraint.
- Ensure children's seatbelts are fastened before you start the car.
- Restraints are fitted and checked by an authorised child restraint fitter.
- Children should travel in the back seat of the car because it is much safer than travelling in the front seat.
- Do not use a restraint if it is more than 10 years old, is damaged or has been in a crash, even if it appears to be in good condition.
For more information on child restraints, download from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau A Guide to Child Restraints - Seat Restraints Save Lives (39.05kB).
.jpg) | Seatbelt laws in NSW - The driver of a car is responsible for ensuring that where restraints are available, children who are passengers use them at all times.
- Except when no seatbelt is fitted to a vehicle (only very old cars), all occupants 16 years and older must wear a seatbelt.
- Babies under 12 months must be in an approved child restraint.
- Children between 1 and 15 years must wear a child restraint or a seatbelt if one is available. There is nothing as good as an approved child safety seat for children weighing between about 9kg and about 18kg. Children should continue to use one for as long as possible.
- If no restraint is available, children under 16 must travel on the back seat.
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 | New child restraint laws for children up to seven years of age Summary of changes from 1 March 2010: - Babies up to the age of 6 months must be restrained in the rearward-facing restraint.
- For young children from 6 months to 1 year of age a rearward or forward facing restraint must be used.
- From 1 to 4 years of age the child must be restrained in a forward facing restraint.
- From 4 years to 7 years of age, a booster seat must be used.
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