AS/NZS 4370
Information about Australia and New Zealand's prescribing standard
Overview
Title: AS/NZS 4370 Restraint of children with disabilities, or medical conditions, in motor vehicles
Current version: 2013
Objective: To provide guidance for prescribers to assess the need and recommend the most suitable vehicle restraint option for a child with disability or medical condition (under 16 years) while travelling in a motor vehicle.
Scope: Sets out options for restraining a child with one or more disabilities, or medical condition, in a motor vehicle to minimize risk of bodily injury in an impact.
Note: This standard does not include design, construction and performance requirements of restraint types used by children with disabilities and medical conditions.
Status: Since this standard was published in 2013, there has been significant advancements impacting on the ongoing relevance and need for this standard.
Towards an evidence-based approach
Status: Since this standard was published in 2013, there has been significant advancements impacting on the ongoing relevance and need for this standard.
Developments include:
- the establishment of MACA and its Australian Safety Assessment Program
- new research investigating the safety impacts of modifying Australian standard car seats
- the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, improving access to supports and products
- revision of AS/NZS 1754 to include a new section to cater for child restraints for children with disability
- introduction of a new standard AS 5384:2023, which provides requirements for postural supports
- improved range of special purpose car seats
- the introduction of specialised training for allied health professionals
- the development of the MACA Guide.
MACA's training, guidelines and prescribing resources are recognised as best practice in Australia today. They are informed by an evidence-base, unlike AS/NZS 4370, which was developed over a decade ago. For these reasons it is likely this standard will not be reviewed and will become redundant over the next one to two years.
