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Motoring
Never leave your child alone in a locked car
How to drive safely with babies and children
Here are our expert tips for safe car travel with babies, toddlers and children, from proper car seat selection and correct use of restraints to avoiding distractions and minimising risks.
It doesn't matter whether you're a parent, guardian, grandparent or friend of the family, if you have a baby or child as a passenger you must ensure their safety on the road. For parents welcoming a new baby into their lives, having a safe and reliable family car is a must, but that’s not the only thing you need to consider to ensure your children are safe and secure.
“Children are our most precious cargo, so it’s important for parents to be well prepared before driving to help keep them safe,” RACV Drive School Senior Instructor Silvia Morris says.
Tips for driving with babies and children
Have the correct child car seat
The number one requirement for safe car travel with a baby or child is that they are seated securely in a child car seat that is suitable for their height and age. The laws in all Australian states and territories, including Victoria, outline the minimum child car restraint requirements for all children up to the age of 16 years. Although guidelines are based on age, children should always travel in a restraint matched to their size and height.
Regularly check that your child car seat still fits your child correctly and adjust or go to the next size as necessary. “Around 70 per cent of child restraints aren't installed correctly,” Morris says. “Get yours checked and fitted by experts.”
Australia has strict standards for safety, design and performance when it comes to baby and child car seats, and all such seats sold commercially in Australia must meet this standard (AS/NZS Standard 1754), as outlined by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
The Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP) carries out additional testing on child car seats. These tests rate seats out of five on how well they protect a child and how easy they are to use. It's important to note that regardless of CREP's rating, all of the seats tested still pass the Australian Standards, and those rated one to four stars perform above the minimum standards.
Read more: the safest baby and child car seats in Australia.
How long should a newborn be in a baby capsule?
Children from birth to six months must travel in a rearward-facing child restraint. Baby capsules are generally for use from birth to at least six months; however, some are available for use from birth to 12 months. Kidsafe advises that children should use a rearward-facing child restraint until they outgrow it. This is defined by when their shoulders are above the maximum shoulder height marker (if present) or above the top shoulder harness strap slot (if there is no marker).
When is a child ready to use an adult seat belt?
A booster seat is generally used between the ages of four and seven years, but the best guide is your child's height. They need to be 145cm tall to use a regular seatbelt, and it is safest for children to remain seated in the rear passenger seat until they are at least 12 years old. You can help determine if your child is ready to use an adult seat belt by following Transport Victoria's Five Step Safety Test.
The Five Step Safety Test
- Child sits with their back flat against the back of the seat
- Child sits with their legs bent over the seat edge
- The seatbelt sits over the middle of the child's shoulder and does not dig into their neck
- The seatbelt sits low and firm across the child’s hips and touches their thighs
- The child can sit comfortably in this position for the whole trip.
The Five Step Safety Test is one way you can determine if your child is ready to move to an adult seatbelt. Image: Getty
Use the child safety locks in a vehicle
Morris advises drivers to engage the child safety locks on the vehicle’s rear doors to help prevent children from accidentally opening the door while the car is moving. Once activated, these locks mean the rear doors can only be opened from the outside.
The locks can usually be turned on manually via a small switch or button near the lock in the rear passenger doors. Some cars also allow the locks to be switched on and off automatically from the driver’s seat.
“Window locks can also be engaged to keep your children safe,” says Morris. " It can also stop them from throwing objects outside the vehicle as this can cause serious harm to other road users.”
Read more: the best car safety features in modern vehicles.
Avoid fatigue when driving
"Driving tired is one of the leading causes of road trauma on our roads and can be just as dangerous as drink-driving,” says Morris. Unfortunately, sleep disruptions are common when you have young children.
While you can’t always encourage your children to sleep (or let you sleep), you can avoid driving fatigued by sharing the drive with another person and by taking breaks regularly.
Morris says parents should prioritise getting to their destination safely over getting there quickly.
“Make sure you allow extra time to reach your destination to allow for rest breaks, snack breaks, and toilet breaks,” she says. “The more children you have in the car, the more time you need to allow for the drive as you will likely need to make more stops.”
Never leave your child alone in a locked car
Leaving children unattended in a car – even for a short period of time – can be fatal, Kidsafe Victoria warns. Tests conducted by RACV have shown that vehicle interiors can reach more than 70°C in just minutes when the outside temperature is 30°C.
Ambulance Victoria figures show that paramedics were called to 1,240 cases of people locked in cars from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023, with 93.6 per cent being cases involving babies and children. In addition, RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance (ERA) patrols received 664 calls to help rescue children accidentally locked in vehicles in 2023.
If you're child is locked in a car and you can't find your key, RACV prioritises call-outs of this nature as urgent and provides assistance as fast as possible.
If this situation happens, you can call RACV Roadside Assistance on 13 11 11. If your child is distressed or in need of medical attention, call 000 immediately.
More: How to stay safe and keep cool during a heatwave
Babies and children can be given soft toys to comfort them while travelling. Image: Getty
How to deal with tantrums and other distracing behaviour
It's important to always prioritise safety and maintain your focus on the road to protect yourself, your passengers and other drivers on the road. If your child's behaviour becomes distracting, pull over to a safe spot and address the issue. Do not try to retreive a lost toy while driving.
"Trying to locate something in your car while you are driving is distracting and is a common cause of collisions, so make sure you have organised everything well in the car when you pack it for your trip,” Morris says.
In the case of a distressed baby, stay calm and resist the urge to turn around and comfort them. Pull over when safe to do so and make sure they are comfortable before driving again.
Morris says that parents can set expectations before the trip with simple, clear instructions (depending on the age of the child) about what to expect during the ride. Older children may be able to play a more active role in minimising driving distractions.
“Let your children know they can help keep your whole family safe by staying secured in their seat, keeping their seatbelts on, and not arguing, throwing things or distracting you while you’re driving,” says Morris.
Always get the least mobile child out of the car first, then your attention can be focused on the child more likely to run out into traffic. Image: Getty
How to catch a taxi with a baby or child
Even if you have your own car, there may be times when you will need to catch a commercial passenger vehicle such as a taxi or rideshare car.
In Victoria, babies aged under one year are legally allowed to travel in the arms of a passenger aged 16 or over seated in the rear passenger seats of a taxi. This only applies to taxis, not rideshare services. Children aged one to seven must use a child restraint if available, or be seated in the rear seats and use the adult lap-sash seatbelt if not.
The safest option is always for your baby or child to travel in an appropriate restraint. If pre-booking a taxi, you may be able to request a vehicle with a child car seat. Parents and caregivers can also supply their own child car seat to fit in the taxi, with all taxis in Victoria required to be fitted with at least one anchor point for child car restraints.
Babies and children from birth to seven years must use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in a rideshare service.
Further tips for safe car travel with babies and children
- Remove or secure any loose items inside the car. They will be thrown around in a crash and can cause serious injury. Cargo barriers in station wagons, hatchbacks and vans are essential.
- Always use the safety door when getting children in and out of the car. This is the rear door that is the furthest away from traffic.
- Always get the least mobile child out of the car first, then your attention can be focused on the child more likely to run out into traffic.
- Never leave children alone in a car.
- If you see a child left alone in a car and are concerned, call 000 immediately.
