Victoria

Understanding road laws

Introduction Road rules Advice to Parent form Disclaimer FAQs

Introduction

When special purpose car seats, modified Australian standard car seats, specialty harness/vests, and other devices (e.g seatbelt buckle covers) are used there are specific road rules that must be complied with in Victoria.

The most common rules for Victoria are summarised below.

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

Road rules

If a person is prescribed a special purpose car seat, modified Australian standard car seat, specialty harness/vest, or other device such as a seatbelt buckle cover, the following road rules must be complied with.

A registered medical practitioner has provided a current medical certificate stating that due to the child or young person's disability or medical condition it is impracticable, undesirable or inexpedient that they be restrained in an Australian standard car seat or seatbelt.

The person, or the driver of the vehicle in or on which the person to whom it applies is travelling, complies with the conditions stated in the certificate.

The certificate is carried in the vehicle in which the child or young person is travelling and produced by the driver to a police officer (or authorised person) if requested.

The person (passenger) is not travelling in the front row of the motor vehicle has rear seats.

Note: there are exemptions for children under 7 years where a medical practitioner has issued a certificate stating that, because of a disability or medical condition, the person should be permitted to travel in the front row.

Advice to Parent form

MACA recommends an Advice to Parent form be carried in each vehicle the child or young person 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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Victoria

Introduction

Road rules

Advice to Parent form

FAQs

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