This paper reviews the following topics: (1) the development of child restraint systems in Australia; (2) current development work for improved standards; (3) lessons learnt from real world performances; and (4) experience with reducing misuse. Australian child restraints have taken on some unusual features compared to their North American and European counterparts: (a) Infant restraints are generally confined to the rear seat; (b) The most popular infant restraint is a detachable hand held capsule which leaves the base semi-permanently mounted in the car; (c) Most children go into forward facing restraints at the age of 5 or 6 months; (d) The forward facing restraints use a virtually mandatory 6 point harness with dual crotch straps, no shield style devices, no shoulder harness clips; (e) Top tether straps since 1976; (f) The Australian Standard is also arguably the toughest performance standard in the world with four separate crash sled tests for frontal, rearward, sideways and inverted impacts; and (g) network of "Safety Restraint Fitting Stations" and associated developments resulting in misuse rates falling to below 20%. Australia also looks forward to better booster chairs offering higher levels of protection for the four to ten year olds, and the incorporation of integrated child seats into new cars. (A)
Abstract