Queensland

Understanding road laws

Road laws Vehicle standards Advice to Parent form Disclaimer FAQs

Introduction

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

Find out more below.

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

Road rules

This Queensland Road Rules enable an allied health professional (called a specialist) to prescribe a vehicle restraint option for a child under 16 years of age, in accordance with AS/NZS 4370.

Under the road rules the allied health professional completes an Advice to Parent form, which the driver must carry in the vehicle the child is travelling in. The driver must also comply with any conditions outlined in the Advice to Parent form.

Note: the road rules define a specialist (prescriber) as a doctor, occupational therapist, psychologist, physiotherapist, or biomedical engineer.

Complying with vehicle standards (seatbelt buckle covers)

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 guideline which is aimed at improving access to seatbelt buckle covers, where prescribed, 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.

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

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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Queensland

Introduction

Road rules

Complying with vehicle standards (seatbelt buckle covers)

Advice to Parent form

Disclaimer

FAQs

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