South Australia
Understanding road laws
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 South Australia.
The most common rules for South Australia are summarised below.
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Requirements
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 specialty harness/vest the following road rules must be complied with.
Children under 7 years (special purpose car seat)
The driver is exempt from transporting a child in an Australian standard car seat, and able to transport the child in a special purpose car seat providing:
* the driver is carrying a medical certificate that states the child is unable to travel in a 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 Australian standard 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
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 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
Seatbelt buckle covers
From 30 March 2024, South Australian families of children with disability no longer need to attend the Department for Infrastructure and Transport’s (DIT) office in Regency Park in person to for a vehicle inspection to use a speciality child restraint that has been prescribed for their child’s needs.
This follows three years of calls from Mobility and Accessibility for Children in Australia Ltd (MACA) to remove this unnecessary barrier for families.
In August 2023, Minister Tom Koutsantonis MP advised MACA that his department would comprehensively review legislation and processes – which resulted in the removal of the exemption requirement.
The Gazette Notice was published on 30 November 2023 and will take effect on 30 March 2024.
However, MACA’s recommendation to include seatbelt buckle covers has not been included in this change. The current requirements are not workable and families still face unnecessary processes to be able to legally use a seatbelt buckle cover for their child – including an onerous online process and a three week wait for a response.
MACA will continue to advocate for change in relation to buckle covers.
DIT recently published a new online application process to apply for an exemption to use a seatbelt buckle cover.
For more information, contact DIT Tel: 1300 882 248, Email: [email protected]
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.
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
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