To the Editor: On 25 January 2008, the Australian Transport Council approved the National Transport Commission’s seventh amendment to the Australian Road Rules. This amendment provides for the mandatory use of forward-facing child restraints for children aged 6 months to 4 years, and the use of Australian Standards-approved booster seats for children aged 4–7 years and weighing up to 26 kg. It also recommends that children aged less than 7 years should not travel in the front passenger seat.

These changes are welcome. They bring Australian rules on child restraints and seating position closer to (but still not on par with) restraint laws already implemented in the United Kingdom and other countries in the European Union, where booster seats are mandatory for all children aged under 12 years or less than 145 cm tall.

Implementation of the amendment poses several challenges. A small proportion of children will exceed the 26 kg weight limit for booster seats by their seventh birthday; however, there is no evidence that these seats are not safe for slightly heavier children. In addition, the Australian Standard (AS 1754) is currently being revised and is likely to move towards recommending restraint selection based on seated height rather than weight, as well as developing new standards for booster seats for older children. Height is the most important determinant of adequate seatbelt fit, and children need to be about 145 cm tall before the lap portion of an adult seatbelt sits correctly over the iliac crests rather than on the soft abdomen.

Community education campaigns will be pivotal in successfully implementing these new road rules. As misuse of restraints is high, education campaigns must emphasise correct use of recommended restraints.-4 Furthermore, the new recommendations may contribute to financial hardship, particularly for low-income families with several children under the age of 7 years. Subsidies or loan schemes may be required to assist such families. Fitting three restraints across the rear seat of small cars may also be difficult. Adequate enforcement will be required to maximise compliance. Research studies and injury surveillance will play an important part in maximising the effectiveness of these rule changes.

Finally, the seventh amendment to the Australian Road Rules does not constitute law, and legislative changes will need to be enacted by each state and territory before these changes become law. We hope that the state and territory governments will take swift action to enact these laws, to prevent injuries and deaths in Australian children due to motor vehicle crashes.