Western Australia

Understanding road laws

Introduction Road laws Advice to Parent/Client 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) 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.

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

Road laws

On 25 September 2020, Western Australia introduced new laws relating to transporting children and young people (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 or young person 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 or young person is travelling in) has a medical certificate certifying the child’s diagnosis as stated in the Advice to Parent form

Advice to Parent/Client 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 Advice to Client form (16 years and over) is recommended to be carried together with the medical certificate (not a legal requirement) in the vehicle the person is travelling in.

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 form (under 16 years) (.pdf)Download Advice to Client form (16 years and over) (.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 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. 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.

MACA will be participating in the upcoming review of the Australian child restraint road rules and is committed to working with each state and territory to ensure consistent rules.

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.

We need road laws for children and adults with disability that have been developed based on research, and that protect their right to safe transport.

Due to the lack of research in this area their needs have not been considered equal to the needs of those without disabilities and medical conditions.

MACA is changing this through our research and upcoming participation in the review of the Australian child restraint road rules. Read more about this in our media release.

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Western Australia

Introduction

Road laws

Advice to Parent/Client form

FAQs

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