Car Seats
It's Safer to Wait Till You're 148--kids are safer in a child restraint until they're 148cm tall.
For children 0-14 years, one of the leading causes of injury involves children as passengers in motor vehicles, with about 18 deaths a year and the equivalent of one classroom-full (26) of children admitted to hospital every month.
Studies show that child restraints can significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death when used correctly.
Below are useful information for injury prevention professionals, parents and caregivers to prevent and raise awareness on this injury issue.
Motor Vehicle Child Passenger Injuries in NZ
THE NUMBERS
>15
children die in car crashes every year, half of them are tamariki Māori.
59%
In the event of a car crash, booster seats reduces the risk of injury by 59%.
148cm
Remember, it’s about height not age: children are safer in a child restraint until they are 148cm tall.
View Car Seats Resources
Click the link above to order or download resources (i.e. posters, flyers, infographics) relating to this injury issue.
- Always use the correct child restraint and booster seat for your child’s height, weight and age.
- Follow the manufacturers’ instructions for sizing and installation of your child restraint.
- Remember all child car seats being used in New Zealand must meet the accepted Safety Standards at all times.
- Make sure your child restraint or booster seat correctly fits your vehicle.
- Get help installing your child restraint or booster. Contact a NZTA-certified child restraint technician for support and to get help to correctly install a child restraint.
- The back seat is safest for kids.
- Never place a rear-facing restraint in the front seat of a vehicle with an airbag.
- It’s safer to wait till you’re one-forty-eight (148cm).
Position Paper
Factsheets
Infographic
Advocacy & Research
Learn more
Safekids Aotearoa has created a booster seat info pack to help schools prepare for the current New Zealand child restraint road rule:
As the driver, you must make sure that any child under 7 years of age is properly restrained by an approved child restraint that is appropriate for the age and size of the child.
They must not travel in the car if you can't put them in an approved child restraint. The vehicle's safety belt on its own is not an approved child restraint.
The packs contains:
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a letter to the principal
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a policy document to encourage and guide principals and Boards of Trustees on the use of booster seats on school trips.
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Safe T Sam 148cm height chart and flyers
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infographic: How a Booster Seat Works
Email us to order this kit.
Learn more
For information from other organisations, search our Information Service and Links pages.