Restraints
About This Project
Every person travelling in a car must wear a seatbelt or be in a correctly fitted child restraint. Any person under the age of 15 years within the vehicle is the driver’s responsibility.
One unrestrained person could cause injuries or fatalities to other people in the vehicle in the event of a crash.
When not in use, why not connect the rear seat belts to give added support to the rear seat. This will stop heavy objects moving into the passenger compartment from the boot in the event of a crash.
The specific type of child restraint you need to use depends on the age and size of the child, but it is recommended that children be seated in rearward-facing child restraints for as long as possible, due to the increase in safety these restraints provide.
Read the manufacturer’s instructions to find a child car seat that best fits your child.
Here are some general guidelines:
- Infant car seat: birth to at least one year old (less than 13 kg).
- Convertible (baby to child) car seat: birth to about four years old (less than 18 kg).
- Front-facing child car seat: one year to about four years old (9 to 18 kg).
- Booster seat: from about four to 10 years old (18 to 36 kg).
- Child safety harness: from about 4 to 10 years old (18 to 36 kg).
As a general rule, if your child’s head is higher than the back of the child restraint when seated, it’s time to move them into the next type of child restraint.
Useful Links
Ministry of Transport: Child restraints information
NZTA: Using child restraints safely