Northern Territory

Understanding road laws

Introduction Road laws Advice to Parent form Disclaimer FAQs

Introduction

When children are prescribed special purpose car seats, modified Australian standard car seats, harnesses/vests, and other devices (e.g seatbelt buckle covers) there are specific road rules and vehicle standards that must be complied with in the Northern Territory.

The most common rules for the Northern Territory are summarised below.

If you can't find the information you are looking for please get in contact with us.

Road laws

There are different rules for transporting children under 7 years, and children 7 to under 16 years, and vehicle standard exemption requirements for the legal use of seatbelt buckle covers.

If a child with disability or medical condition (under 16 years of age) is prescribed a special purpose car seat, modified Australian standard car seat, or harness/vest the following road rules must be complied with.

Children under 7 years (special purpose car seats)

The driver is exempt from transporting a child in an Australian standard car seat, providing:

* the driver is carrying a medical certificate that states the child is unable to travel in an Australian standard car seat because of their medical condition or disability

* the child is travelling in a child restraint designed for a person with a disability or medical condition

* the driver is complying with any conditions stated in the medical certificate

Children under 7 years (modified Australian standard car seat, harness/vest)

The driver is exempt from transporting a child in an Australian standard car seat, and able to transport the child in a modified car seat or harness/vest providing:

* the driver is carrying a medical certificate that states the person should not wear a seatbelt because of a disability or medical condition

* the person is complying with any conditions stated in the medical certificate

Note: This requirement applies to harnesses and vests that modify the use of the vehicle seatbelt.

Children 7 to under 16 years (all restraint types)

The driver is exempt from transporting a child in an Australian standard car seat or vehicle seatbelt, providing:

* the driver is carrying a medical certificate that states a medical practitioner believes the person should not wear a seatbelt because of a medical condition or disability

* the person is complying with any conditions stated in the medical certificate

Seatbelt buckle covers

MACA worked closely with the Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL) to improve access and legal use requirements for seatbelt buckle covers. This resulted in the Northern Territory government publishing a Government Gazette - Prescribed Device Exemption.

For more information read the Northern Territory Government's information sheet and MACA's buckle cover model policy.

Advice to Parent form

MACA recommends an Advice to Parent form be carried in each vehicle the child travels in. In some states and territories, this is a legal requirement.

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

Download Advice to Parent fillable PDF (.pdf)

Disclaimer: The Advice to Parent form is only for use by MACA trained professionals. MACA bears no responsibility for unauthorised use of this form.

FAQs

Model Australian Road Rules (ARR) were first introduced in 1999 and form the basis of the road rules in each state and territory.

The National Transport Commission is responsible for maintaining the Australian Road Rules, which are reviewed every two years. Many jurisdictions copy the model law, however MACA’s review of each state and territory’s road rules impacting on the transport of children with disabilities and medical conditions revealed examples where jurisdictions have not followed the model law.

Our research provides the evidence-base and lived experience understanding to ensure that future changes to the Australian Road Rules, and jurisdictions road rules meet the needs of children with disabilities and medical conditions.

MACA's training, resources and templates are kept up to date to reflect any changes to state and territory road laws.

We have extensively reviewed the current legislative environment which means we have a deep understanding of each state and territory's road laws. We work closely with road agencies, to remove unnecessary barriers and to identify opportunities for improvement.

This approach is increasing awareness of the transport needs of children with disabilities and medical conditions and has resulted in some new laws for the use of seatbelt buckle covers.

Our website, information resources and training are regularly updated to reflect any changes.

This is because there has been limited research and understanding of the transport needs of children with disabilities and medical conditions.

This means that their needs have not been considered equal to the needs of children without disabilities and medical conditions when unable to travel in an Australian standard car seat.

MACA is changing this - our research and activities are paving the way for national evidence-informed policies, programs and training.

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Northern Territory

Introduction

Road laws

Children under 7 years (special purpose car seats)

Children under 7 years (modified Australian standard car seat, harness/vest)

Children 7 to under 16 years (all restraint types)

Seatbelt buckle covers

Advice to Parent form

FAQs

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