Australian Capital Territory
Understanding road laws
Safe car travel
Safe and comfortable car travel is important for everyone.
Car seats, booster seats and seatbelts help protect passengers if a vehicle stops suddenly or is involved in a crash. Using the right restraint for a person’s size and needs can reduce the risk of serious injury or death.
ACT road rules
If a person with disability or a medical condition can travel safely in a standard Australian child restraint, booster seat or vehicle seatbelt, the table below shows the minimum legal requirements and best practice recommendations for safer travel.
Age |
Road rule |
Best practice recommendation |
Under 6 months |
Rearward-facing child restraint |
Rearward-facing child restraint |
6 months to under 4 years |
Rearward-facing or forward-facing child restraint |
Rearward-facing child restraint for as long as the child fits, then a forward-facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness |
4 to under 7 years |
Forward-facing child restraint or booster seat |
Forward-facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness for as long as the child fits, then a booster seat with a lap-sash seatbelt |
7 to under 16 years |
Booster seat or vehicle seatbelt |
Booster seat until the child fits a vehicle seatbelt properly. Use the five-step test to check when they are ready to use a seatbelt |
Alternative restraints and methods of travel
Some people with disability or a medical condition cannot travel safely using a standard child restraint, booster seat or vehicle seatbelt.
The ACT road rules include provisions that may allow alternative methods of travel for people with disability or medical conditions. The requirements depend on the person’s age and how they need to travel.
Alternative methods of travel may include:
- special purpose car seats
- modified child restraints or vehicle seatbelts
- specialty harness/vests
- buckle covers
- extra recline or positioning supports
- travelling in the front row of a vehicle when the person is under 7 years of age
- in rare circumstances, travelling without a child restraint or seatbelt.
A medical certificate and/or other approval may be required. A MACA Certified Professional can help with transport assessments and documentation.
Seatbelt buckle covers
The ACT Government (Transport Canberra and City Services) advises that seatbelt buckle covers are not compliant with the Australian Design Rules applicable to seatbelts, or the ACT Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000 (Vehicle Registration Regulation).
Parents/guardians can apply for an exemption under section 104 of the Vehicle Registration Regulation by contacting the Vehicle Inspection and Technical Unit in Access Canberra via email [email protected] or phone 02 6207 7236.
School and community transport
Children and adults with disability may need additional supports, an alternative restraint or another travel arrangement when using school, community or other organised transport services.
In addition to road-rule and vehicle-standard requirements, transport providers, schools and organisations may have their own policies and approval processes.
If a person is having difficulty travelling safely, speak with the relevant transport provider or organisation and consider seeking an assessment from a MACA Certified Professional.
Australian Road Rules Review
MACA welcomes and strongly supports updates to child restraint rules in the Australian Road Rules. Proposed changes being considered are outlined in the National Transport Commission (NTC) Issues Paper. As a member of the NTC’s Expert Advisory Group, MACA actively contributed to the development of the paper.
A summary report outlining the feedback received during the consultation is available on the NTC website.
Next steps
The NTC will use feedback from the Issues Paper consultation to inform the development of a regulation impact statement.
A further round of public consultation is expected mid-2026.
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