IMPROVING ROAD SAFETY FOR YOUNG CHILDREN: NEW ‘COUNTING ON YOU’ CAMPAIGN

Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Roads Ray Williams today launched the NSW Government’s biggest ever child car seat campaign called “We’re Counting on You”.

Mr Williams said it was alarming that about two in every three children are not properly restrained in cars.

“Our children are our most vulnerable road users and it’s staggering to think that two thirds of them are riding in a vehicle without being properly protected,” Mr Williams said

“Children incorrectly secured in a car seat are seven times more likely to receive life threatening injuries during an accident than those using car seats secured correctly.

“Today the NSW Government is urging parents and carers to choose the safest car seat for their child’s age and size and ensure it is properly installed.

“Our biggest ever child car seat campaign called “We’re counting on you” will be distributed to NSW primary schools and early childcare facilities and be in shopping centres, print, radio an online.

“This new campaign is additional to other recent initiatives by the NSW Liberals & Nationals to improve road safety for our children.

“They include the release earlier this month of a new road safety guide for parents and school communities about school zone safety, the launch of the SafetyTown website for families and schools and the roll out of flashing lights to every school in the state by the end of next year.”

Centre of Road Safety’s Marg Prendergast said the poor use of child car seats remained a large contributor to child passenger deaths and injuries.

“Parents and carers then need to get the car seat correctly installed following the manufacturer’s instructions, and know how to use it properly,” Ms Prendergast said.

“As part of the campaign, Transport for NSW has worked with the NRMA, RACV, TAC, VicRoads and RACWA to develop an Australia-wide website childcarseats.com.au

“The Child Car Seats website shows car seats that have been scientifically tested for crash safety and ease of use and provides star ratings for each product,” she said.

NRMA Motoring and Services vehicle safety expert Jack Haley encouraged parents and carers to visit the website.

“Promoting greater awareness about the need to safely restrain children travelling in cars is a key priority and that’s why organisations across the country have banded together to develop this website,” Mr Haley said.

“It has useful tips on how to fit and use child car seats correctly and tells parents and carers where their nearest Authorised Fitting Station is located,” he said.