South Australia
Understanding road laws
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 South Australia.
The most common rules for South Australia are summarised below.
If you can't find the information you are looking for please get in contact with us.
Requirements
There are different rules for transporting children under 7 years, and children 7 to under 16 years, and vehicle standard exemption requirements to comply with.
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 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
Note: A Certificate of Exemption issued by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport is also required. Contact 1300 882 248 or email [email protected] for more information.
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
Note: A Certificate of Exemption issued by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport may also be required. Contact 1300 882 248 or email [email protected] for more information.
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
Note: A Certificate of Exemption issued by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport may also be required. Contact 1300 882 248 or email [email protected] for more information.
MACA wrote to the South Australian (SA) government, on 15 March 2023 and 26 May 2023 requesting removal of the barriers in SA legislation, and government processes, impacting families whose children require access to specialty child restraint products. These barriers also impact suppliers and health professionals.
We are pleased to share that we received a reply from the Hon Tom Koutsantonis MP on the 28 August 2023, advising that he has asked the Department for Infrastructure and Transport to thoroughly explore our recommendations and confirmed that the department is undertaking a comprehensive review. This review is expected to be finalised by the end of 2023.
Currently, families whose children are prescribed specialty child restraint products are required to attend the Department for Infrastructure and Transport’s (DIT), Regency Park office to obtain a certificate of exemption. This exemption relates only to the vehicle/s that DIT staff have reviewed, and the process needs to be repeated if a child travels in other vehicles, or the family change their vehicle.
This process is unnecessarily and unfairly disadvantaging the rights of children with disabilities to access the products they need for daily transport.
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
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get in touch for help
