Leading road safety authorities in Australia are throwing their weight behind a proposed legal change that would see children kept out of the front seat of vehicles for much longer. The push aims to align state laws with the latest medical evidence on child passenger safety.
The Call for a Uniform National Standard
Currently, regulations on when a child can legally sit in the front seat vary across Australian states and territories, creating a confusing patchwork of rules. In most jurisdictions, the legal minimum is either 7 or a height-based rule. However, experts from organisations like Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and the Australasian College of Road Safety argue this is too young.
They are advocating for a consistent, nationwide law that would prohibit children from travelling in the front seat until they are at least 13 years old. This recommendation is based on a significant body of research concerning child development and crash dynamics.
The core of their argument hinges on the physical vulnerability of younger children. Experts point out that a child's skeletal structure, particularly the pelvis, is not fully developed until around puberty. In a frontal collision, the standard lap-sash seatbelt, designed for adult proportions, can ride up over a child's softer abdomen, posing a severe risk of internal injuries.
Understanding the Risks: Airbags and Belt Fit
The dangers are compounded by the presence of front passenger airbags. These safety devices deploy with tremendous force to protect an average-sized adult. For a smaller child sitting closer to the dashboard, this force can cause serious or fatal neck and head injuries.
Professor Lynne Bilston, a senior principal research scientist at NeuRA, has been a vocal proponent of the change. She emphasises that the back seat is unequivocally the safest place for all children. "The evidence is very clear," Professor Bilston states. "Children are much safer in the back seat, and they should stay there until they are at least 13."
Her research underscores that the risk of injury for children in the front seat is significantly higher, even when they are correctly restrained in an appropriate booster seat. The simple act of moving them to the rear of the vehicle dramatically reduces their exposure to the most common and dangerous points of impact in crashes.
The Path Forward and Parental Responsibility
The campaign seeks to transform this expert advice into enforceable legislation. A uniform law would eliminate confusion and ensure all Australian families are guided by the best possible safety standard, regardless of where they live or drive.
While the legal change is pursued, safety bodies urge parents to adopt the 13-year guideline immediately, regardless of the minimum age in their state. They stress that the legal minimum is not necessarily the safest benchmark. Choosing to keep children in the back seat until they are teenagers is one of the most effective decisions a parent can make to protect them on the road.
The move has garnered support from other road safety groups and paediatricians, who see it as a common-sense, evidence-based step to prevent serious injuries and save young lives. The proposal now sits with state and federal transport ministers, who would need to collaborate to enact a consistent national reform.
