Road safety for parents | Motoring Education Programs

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Road safety for parents

Road safety begins the moment your child enters the world.

As parents and carers, you play the most important role in helping young children learn how to stay safe around roads, long before they can understand the dangers themselves. Early habits protect little ones at their most vulnerable and set the foundations for a lifetime of safer choices.

Choosing the right child car seat

Make sure your child is protected on every trip by using the right restraint for their age and size, fitted and secured correctly.

Car seat safety

All children up to the age of seven must be in the correct restraint for their age. The penalty for not having a child in the correct restraint is $352 and three demerit points.

NSW child restraint laws:

0 to 6 months must be secured in a rearward-facing restraint.
6 months to 4 years must be in a rearward or forward-facing restraint.
4 to 7 years must be in a forward-facing restraint or booster seat.

Types of restraints:

Rearward-facing restraint
Forward-facing restraint
Convertible restraint
Booster seat
ISOFIX

The child restraint safety rating

The Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP) gives parents ease of use and safety ratings on individual child restraints.

Child restraints are designed to match a child's age and size.
All child restraints sold in Australia must comply with the Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1754.

View the CREP child car seat buying guide.

Tips for the correct use of a child restraint:

Check that straps and belts are not twisted.
Listen for the click when buckling your child in.
Fit the harness firmly – only two fingers should fit between your child and the harness.

Never leave children in a car

Even on mild days, temperatures inside a car can rise quickly. Leaving a child unattended can become dangerous in minutes.

Car safety

Each summer, many children are rescued from locked cars. Even on a mild day, the temperature inside a vehicle can rise rapidly, creating dangerous conditions in minutes.

Facts

Around 75% of the temperature increase inside a car occurs within the first five minutes after doors are closed.
Large vehicles heat up just as quickly as small ones.
On a 30°C day, a closed vehicle can reach around 78°C. Even with windows partially open, temperatures can still climb to around 70°C.

Risks

As temperatures rise, humidity increases and airflow drops, making it harder for a child’s body to cool itself.
Young children are far more sensitive to heat than adults and can begin to suffer dehydration, heat stress or heat stroke very quickly.
If a distressed child attempts to get out of their restraint, they may become entangled and at risk of strangulation.

Tips

Never leave children in a car without adult supervision, not even for a short errand.
Always take children with you when leaving the vehicle.
Offer cool water regularly during trips and dress children in lightweight, light coloured clothing.
When planning longer journeys, consider travelling during cooler parts of the day and take breaks at least every two hours.
Avoid using sun protection hoods on rearward facing restraints, as they reduce airflow; use a visor or sunshade instead.

Stay safe on bikes and scooters

As children start to explore, it’s important they’re protected with the right gear and safe habits from an early age.

Helmet Safety

When pre schoolers ride scooters, trikes or bikes, even as passengers, they rely entirely on the adults around them to keep them safe.

Facts

Toddlers’ heads are proportionally larger and heavier than an adult’s, increasing the force placed on their neck and skull during a fall.
Even at low speeds, tip overs are one of the most common causes of injury for young passengers on wheels.
A properly fitted helmet reduces the risk of head injury by spreading impact forces across the helmet shell and inner padding.
Children learn through imitation — when adults model consistent helmet use, young children are more likely to develop lifelong safety habits.

Risks

A helmet that is loose, tilted back or incorrectly adjusted may shift during a fall, offering little or no protection.
Even mild falls can result in serious head injuries in toddlers due to their developing brains and limited ability to brace themselves.
Adults riding without a helmet risk incapacitating injury. If a parent is hurt, there may be no one able to assist or comfort the child.
Sudden stops, uneven surfaces or minor collisions can cause tip overs, even when travelling slowly.

Tips

Ensure your toddler’s helmet sits low, level and snug, with straps correctly adjusted under the chin.
Check helmet fit regularly — children grow quickly, and adjustments may be needed.
Choose helmets that meet Australian Standards and replace any that have been in a crash.
Always wear your own helmet first. It protects you and reinforces safe habits for your child.
Treat short rides the same as long ones — helmets every time, even for a quick trip.

Staying safe in driveways

Driveways can be one of the most dangerous places for young children. Staying alert and supervising closely can help prevent serious incidents.

Driveway Safety

Tragically, on average, one child is run over in their driveway every week in Australia. In the time it takes for a driver to say goodbye and start the car, a child may have moved into the path of the vehicle.

Facts

More than a third of motor vehicle incidents that claim the lives of pedestrians under six occur in driveways, carparks and yards.
Children under three are at greatest risk of driveway incidents, often involving a reversing vehicle driven by someone they know.
Many children who survive driveway incidents sustain severe or permanent injuries.
Vehicles Testing shows that most vehicles have a large blind spot behind them. Even with parking sensors or a reversing camera, a small child, especially close to the rear bumper can remain unseen.

Risks

Children can move quickly and unpredictably, entering the vehicle’s path before a driver has time to react.
Children below the window and mirror height of the car are extremely difficult to see from the driver’s seat.
Driveways are often treated as play spaces, increasing the likelihood that children wander into danger.
Reliance on technology alone, such as cameras or sensors, can create a false sense of security.

Tips

Treat the driveway like a small road, children should not play there.
Supervise children closely whenever a vehicle is being moved; keep them within arm’s reach.
If you’re the only adult at home, place children safely in the vehicle with you before reversing or moving the car.
Use gates, fencing or security doors to restrict children’s access to the driveway.
Walk around the vehicle before getting in, checking for children or toys that may be hidden from view.