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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-05-26 Daily Xml
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ROAD SAFETY

Ms FOX (Bright) (15:07): My question is to the Minister for Road Safety. Can the minister outline what the government is doing to protect our children who travel in vehicles from road trauma?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:07): Thank you to the member for Bright who, like me, has a personal interest in the safety of small children travelling in cars.

The Hon. J.R. Rau: She's only got one.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Although she has only one, yes, indeed. Thank you, Attorney. This government is strengthening its commitment to road safety by adopting new nationally approved changes for the use of child restraints in motor vehicles from 1 July. The new laws represent significant changes that will give greater protection for children travelling in vehicles and will hopefully go a long way to reducing road trauma.

Unfortunately, nearly 60 children under the age of 12 are either killed or seriously injured in crashes in South Australia every year and more than a third of those casualties are children who are under the age of seven. Around a quarter of those seriously injured were not wearing a child restraint at the time. Research also suggests that children are being moved into bigger seats or are prematurely graduating to seatbelts when this is not appropriate, and I have to own up to being one of those people. We put my five year old son into an adult seatbelt long before we should have. I have since been educated and we have put him into a booster seat which is appropriate for his size.

The new laws will reduce the risk of injury caused by the use of unsuitable restraints for a child's size by specifying the type of restraint to be used at different ages and where children must be seated in a vehicle. They also give parents and carers the advice and clarification they need about what type of restraint provides the best safety benefit for their children. The changes to the Australian road rules will introduce a mandatory—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Mr Bean is getting a little bit excited.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: The changes to the Australian Road Rules will introduce a mandatory size-appropriate restraint system for all children up to the age of seven. Specifically, the new laws will require children up to the age of six months to be restrained in a rear-facing child restraint (for example, an infant capsule that members will be familiar with); from six months of age until the age of four, to be restrained in either a rear or forward-facing child restraint (that is, a child safety seat); and from four until the age of seven, to be restrained in either a forward-facing child restraint or booster seat restraint by a correctly adjusted and fastened seatbelt or child safety harness.

The new laws also deal with the issue of children sitting in the front seat of a vehicle. Children aged between four and seven will not be permitted to sit in the front seat unless all other seat positions are already occupied by children under seven. Children up to four years of age must be restrained in the rear of the vehicle where the vehicle has two or more rows of seats.

Provision will be included in the new laws to ensure that a child is not required to use a restraint unsuitable for their size and weight. For example, a child who is too tall or heavy for the restraint must use a restraint for the next age category. The new laws come into effect on 1 July. Many parents are already aware of the changes and have already taken steps to make their own arrangements.

In fact, this very morning I was at the Red Cross at Mile End to buy another infant capsule, which we need again. I wish I had frequent purchase points. It would be very handy, but unfortunately they do not.

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: It has something to do with sharing bath towels, I am told. In fact, when I was there at the Red Cross, the place was full of parents eager to buy the new child restraints that are necessary under these new laws. People are becoming aware, but I do encourage parents to beat the 1 July change to the laws and make sure that their children are appropriately restrained.

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