Is your child’s car restraint correctly installed? Do you know where the safest place is to seat your child in the car?
If you have any doubts, Kidsafe Queensland conduct free child restraint checks to ease your mind. Research suggests many child deaths on our roads could be prevented if child restraints were correctly fitted*.
Road accidents remain the single biggest cause of child death and injury**, yet, Kidsafe Queensland has found around 70% of child restraints are incorrectly installed or used.
NRMA Insurance, as a major sponsor of Kidsafe in Queensland, helps provide the free checks to help parents ensure their child’s car restraints are properly installed and positioned.
NRMA Insurance spokesperson Frank Adler said it was a simple message for parents and carers that could save a life.
“As a provider of Compulsory Third Party Insurance in Queensland, we deal first-hand with child road injuries and see the emotional and physical trauma that families experience when a child is injured in a car crash,” he said.
“Despite child restraint and seatbelt use in Australia being at a high of more than 90%*, the fact that road accidents remain the single biggest cause of child death suggests too many restraints are not being used properly.”
Kidsafe Queensland Executive Officer Robyn Allen said in many cases parents were simply confused about the safest restraint to use and the best seating position.
“To work effectively in an accident, it is essential child restraints are fitted correctly. Where possible the restraint should be fitted in the centre of the back seat,” she said. “This position helps to protect from side impact.
“When choosing a restraint parents also need to ensure it suits their child, their car, and their individual needs.”
The Kidsafe child restraint checking service is available at Kidsafe Queensland’s headquarters on Bramston Terrace, Herston each week day from 9am – 3pm (bookings are essential – telephone 07 3854 1829).
Kidsafe also offers an inexpensive hire service for baby capsules and child restraints – a service that more than 1900 parents take advantage of each year.
