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New South Wales

Understanding road laws

Introduction

The NSW road rules provide requirements for how people must be restrained when travelling in a motor vehicle. They also include exemption requirements where a person is unable to travel in accordance with the rules.

The rules include requirements for vehicle occupants in the following age groups:

• Under 6 months

• 6 months to under 4 years

• 4 years to under 7 years

• 7 years to under 16 years

• 16 years and over

The rules define the types of vehicle restraints that are 'approved' (e.g., Australian standard car seat). The type of vehicle restraint required will depend on the persons age and size. These approved vehicle restraints are legal to use when travelling in a motor vehicle.

Where a person with a disability or medical condition is unable to travel in an approved vehicle restraint, the road rule exemptions allow them to travel in specialty vehicle restraints (including accessories). This requires conditions to be complied with, such as a medical certificate.

Exemptions

An exemption is required when a person is travelling in any of the following ways:

  • special purpose car seat
  • modified Australian standard car seat
  • specialty harness/vest
  • in the front row of a vehicle which has two or more rows (children under 7 years)
  • no child restraint or vehicle seatbelt (rare cases)

The most common exemption road rules for New South Wales are summarised below. There are also vehicle standard exemption requirements for the legal use of seatbelt buckle covers.

MACA trained allied health professionals can help families and clients comply with these requirements. In some cases they will recommend registering the exemption (medical certificate) with Transport for NSW to avoid receiving a fine.

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Road rules

There are different exemption road rules depending on the age of the person, how they are travelling (e.g., special purpose car seat), and where they are travelling in the vehicle.

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Seatbelt buckle covers

The NSW Vehicle Standards Information 49 (VSI 49) provides the conditions that must be met for the legal use of a seatbelt buckle cover, without needing to apply to Transport for NSW for approval.

VSI 49 requires the following:

  • medical certificate to be carried in the vehicle with the buckle cover manufacturer’s instructions attached.
  • the seatbelt buckle cover must comply with AS 4370:1996 (note this standard is out of date) and be fitted in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
  • the seatbelt buckle cover must be removed when not being used by the nominated person.

NOTE: VSI 49 has not been updated since 2007 and includes out-of-date information. MACA continues to request that VSI 49 be reviewed.

For more information refer to MACA's buckle cover model policy.

Advice to Parent/Client form

MACA recommends an Advice to Parent/Client form be carried in each vehicle the person travels in.

The MACA Guide, provided free to participants of our online training course, includes detailed information to assist prescribers in completing the form.

Disclaimer: The Advice to Parent/Client forms are only for use by MACA trained professionals. MACA bears no responsibility for unauthorised use of these forms.

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