266AAppropriate securing of passengers under 16 years old

266A Appropriate securing of passengers under 16 years old

(1) A passenger who is less than 6 months old must be restrained in a suitable rearward facing approved child restraint.

(2) A passenger who is 6 months old or older, but is less than 4 years old, must be restrained in a suitable—

(a) rearward facing approved child restraint; or

(b) forward facing approved child restraint that has an inbuilt harness.

(3) A passenger who is 4 years old or older, but is less than 7 years old, must—

(a) be restrained in a suitable forward facing approved child restraint that has an inbuilt harness; or

(b) occupy a seating position that is fitted with an approved seatbelt and be restrained in—

(ii) a lap type seatbelt fitted with an approved child safety harness; or

(c) be placed on a properly positioned approved booster seat and be restrained by either—

(ii) a suitable approved child safety harness.

Rule 266A(4) substituted by S.R. No. 7/2023 rule 12(1).

(4) A passenger who is less than 7 years old and is exempt from being restrained in an approved child restraint or being placed in an approved booster seat under rule 267(3)—

(a) must occupy a seating position that is fitted with an approved seatbelt; and

(b) must wear the seatbelt; and

(c) must not occupy a seating position in the front row unless the passenger is also exempt under rule 267(4).

(5) A passenger who is 7 years old or older, but under 16 years old, must—

(a) be restrained in a suitable approved child restraint; or

(b) occupy a seating position that is fitted with an approved seatbelt and be restrained in—

(ii) a lap type seatbelt fitted with an approved child safety harness; or

(c) be placed on a properly positioned approved booster seat and be restrained by either—

(ii) a suitable approved child safety harness; or

(d) occupy a seating position that is fitted with a suitable approved seatbelt.

Rule 266A(6) revoked by S.R. No. 7/2023 rule 12(2).

(7) If, because of a passenger's height or weight, the passenger cannot be restrained—

(a) as required by subrule (1)—the passenger must be restrained in accordance with subrule (2); or

(b) as required by subrule (2) or paragraph (a)—the passenger must be restrained in accordance with subrule (3); or

(c) as required by subrule (3) or paragraph (b)—the passenger must be restrained in accordance with subrule (5).

(8) If the motor vehicle is a bus, public minibus, taxi or tow truck and there is no suitable approved child restraint or approved booster seat available in the motor vehicle for the passenger—