Queensland

Forms and templates for allied health professionals

Road laws Vehicle standards Advice to Parent form FAQs

Complying with road laws

The Queensland Road Rules enable a prescriber (called a specialist in their Road Rules) to prescribe a vehicle restraint option for a child under 16 years of age, in accordance with AS/NZS 4370 Restraint of children with disabilities, or medical conditions, in motor vehicles.

This road rule provides an exemption for the driver from complying with the Queensland child restraint and seatbelt road rules for children under the age of 16 years. The driver must be carrying a current Advice to Parent form in the vehicle the child is travelling in, and be complying with any conditions outlined in the Advice to Parent form.

A specialist (prescriber) is defined as a doctor, occupational therapist, psychologist, physiotherapist, or biomedical engineer.

Unlike all other states and territories in Australia there is no requirement for a medical certificate.

MACA is currently unable to provide advice regarding engineering certification requirements relating to safe restraint use. We are currently seeking support to develop national guidelines to assist in this area.

Complying with vehicle standards (seatbelt buckle covers)

MACA is pleased to announce that the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) have published a safe movement guideline for a vehicle fitted with a seatbelt buckle cover. MACA worked closely with TMR to develop the new guideline which will reduce red tape and delays for families of children with disabilities.

Issued under Section 53 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation 2021, the guideline exempts a vehicle from certain vehicle standards and removes the current requirement of applying to TMR for an exemption - providing certain requirements are met.

Read more about the exemption and requirements here.

Advice to Parent form

The Advice to Parent form must be carried by the driver in the vehicle the child is travelling in at all times.

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 of states and territories that have not followed the model law.

Our research program provides the evidence-base and lived experience understanding to ensure that future changes to the Australian Road Rules, and state and territory road rules meet the needs of our community.

MACA is working closely with road agencies and the National Transport Commission. Any changes to state and territory road rules will be reflected in our templates and information resources.

We have extensively reviewed and documented the current legislative environment which means we have a deep understanding of each state and territory's road laws. This is enabling us to work closely with state and territory road agencies, in both the road and vehicle policy areas as our research makes visible where the law is working, not working, and where unnecessary barriers impact on the road safety and well-being of children and families.

We expect to see road rule and vehicle standard changes relating to the use of seatbelt buckle covers and special purpose car seats in the coming 12 months to two years. Our website, information resources and training will be kept up-to-date 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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Queensland

Complying with road laws

Complying with vehicle standards (seatbelt buckle covers)

Advice to Parent form

FAQs

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