Western Australia

Understanding road laws

Introduction Road laws Advice to Parent form Disclaimer FAQs

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 Western Australia.

The most common rules for Western Australia are summarised below.

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Road laws

On 25 September 2020, Western Australia introduced new laws relating to transporting children (under 16 years) with disabilities and medical conditions in motor vehicles.

The law exempts a child with a disability or medical condition from travelling in an Australian standard car seat providing certain conditions are met.

The child is restrained in a device prescribed by a prescriber in accordance with AS/NZS 4370:2013 (a prescriber can be a medical practitioner, occupational therapist, psychologist, physiotherapist, rehabilitation engineer, or biomedical engineer)

The device is fitted in accordance with instructions in the Advice to Parent form

The driver is carrying a current Advice to Parent form

The driver (of the vehicle the child is travelling in) has a medical certificate certifying the child’s diagnosis as stated in the Advice to Parent form

Advice to Parent form

The Advice to Parent form, together with the medical certificate, 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: 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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Western Australia

Introduction

Road laws

Advice to Parent form

FAQs

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