Information for parents

When travelling in a car, seatbelts and child car seats provide protection in the event of a crash. It is very distressing and potentially dangerous when children are able to get out of their child car seat while the vehicle is moving. Stories from Australian families show how challenging this situation can be.

If this is happening to you, contact an allied health professional as soon as possible to reduce the immediate risk and develop strategies to improve car travel.

Buckle covers are products commonly prescribed by allied health professionals for a child with disability or behavioural challenge who is getting out of their child car seat and/or seatbelt.

There are two types of buckle covers:

• Child restraint buckle cover: an accessory product placed over the top of the buckle release on the built-in harness of a child car seat.

• Seatbelt buckle cover: an accessory product placed over the top of the vehicle seatbelt buckle to prevent the occupant from accessing the seatbelt’s release button.

At MACA we acknowledge that there’s a real need for solutions to help prevent children from getting out of their car restraint or seatbelt during travel. However, there are some serious safety considerations you need to be aware of.

• There is no buckle cover that is certified to Australian standards (despite some manufacturers claiming they do).
• Many buckle covers need a key or other device to undo the buckle. In the event of a crash or emergency, this could prevent the child from being quickly and easily released from the vehicle.
• Some buckle covers are supplied with a seatbelt cutter which is recommended to always be kept in the vehicle when the child is using the buckle cover. In an emergency the child can be released by cutting the seatbelt or child restraint webbing. If the buckle cover you have been prescribed is not supplied with a seatbelt cutter, we recommend you buy a seatbelt cutter to be kept in the vehicle (these are low cost and available online).
• In some cases, having the buckle cover applied encourages the child to find another way to get out of the restraint. For example some children find they can lift the sash and/or lap parts of the seatbelt away from their body and slip out from under the seatbelt. This is a significant road safety risk.

MACA recommends seeking guidance from an allied health professional who can prescribe buckle covers and provide strategies to support safe travel.

Parents report that some children can easily undo buckle covers. If you are prescribed a buckle cover for your child, your allied health professional will advise you to supervise and observe your child closely. They may also recommend another person go with you in the car for the first few trips. This will reduce distraction for you and provide support if your child undoes the buckle cover.

Where possible, choose travel routes that allow you to pull over safely if needed.

There are differences in state and territory requirements for the legal use of both child restraint and seatbelt buckle covers. To use a child restraint buckle cover, most state and territories require a medical certificate to be carried in the car the child is travelling in.

To use a seatbelt buckle cover, some states and territories require an exemption from vehicle standards as they consider the use of a seatbelt buckle cover as a modification to the vehicle. Your child’s allied health professional can give you the documents you need, plus advice to make sure you’re complying with your state or territory's road laws.

No. Seatbelt and child restraint buckle covers do not comply with Australian standards. MACA is concerned that some buckle cover manufacturers publish misleading information which may suggest compliance with Australian standards. Even though buckle covers are often needed to reduce road safety risks, there’s a lack of research and knowledge about their safety, features and appropriate use.

If you’re experiencing challenges with your child’s transport, get in contact with an allied health professional for help.

While you are able to buy buckle covers online and from mainstream shopfronts and disability product suppliers, due to the risks associated with using buckle covers, we recommend that you talk to your allied health professional about your child’s transport needs.

Allied health professionals are best placed to assess your child’s needs and recommend suitable strategies and/or restraint products to improve your child’s safety and comfort in the car. They will also review your child’s transport needs on a regular basis and give you advice around legal requirements for use in your state or territory.

This depends on the design of the buckle cover. Some products slide easily over a seatbelt or child restraint buckle, whereas others use Velcro and ‘wrap’ around the buckle.

In 2020/21, MACA and La Trobe University received funding from the Commonwealth Office of Road Safety, Road Safety Innovation Fund. This project found that complete vehicle safety solutions are needed to respond to buckle release challenges.

This project developed a report aimed at inspiring vehicle manufacturers, product designers and innovators to develop better solutions for buckle release challenges.

Until recently, there was no Australian standard for specialty harnesses and vests.

The ‘AS 5384: Accessories for seat belts used in motor vehicles’ standard was published in September 2023.

It includes requirements for postural support devices (i.e., specialty harnesses/vests) and outlines crash testing, labelling and packaging requirements.

This provides suppliers in the Australian market with an opportunity to develop and supply products that comply with the relevant section of this new standard.

Despite specialty harnesses and vests being the most commonly prescribed device by Australian allied health professionals, there is a lack of information and research relating to their design, construction, safety performance and use.

To address these gaps MACA sought funding support and is now leading a two year Austroads project, in collaboration with The George Institute for Global Health, to research and investigate specialty harnesses/vests for both Australia and New Zealand.

The type of installation depends on the specialty harness/vest.

Some products, such as the Hemco harness and some models of the EZ-ON Vest, require the lap-sash seatbelt to converted to a lap-only belt, and attach to the vehicle child restraint anchorage point. Other products require use of the vehicle lap-sash seatbelt.

This type of restraint, commonly known as a special purpose car seat, has been specifically designed for children with a disability or medical condition. These car seats all comply with overseas standards and regulations.

Special purpose car seats offer an extensive range of features and optional accessories not available on Australian standard car seats. This includes, for example, abductor wedges, lateral trunk supports, hip supports, trays for upper limb positioning, built-in harnesses, anti-escape features, footrests, recline options and swivel bases. Unlike child car seats you buy in shops, special purpose car seats also cater for older and heavier children, and in some cases are suitable for adults.

Special purpose car seats are prescribed by an allied health professional in line with standards and laws.

Safe use tip: all special purpose car seats have a built-in harness, which is different to regular car seats, which include booster seats that do not have a built-in harness.

Some built-in harnesses provided with special purpose car seats are for postural support or other purposes only (e.g. anti-escape features) and the vehicle seatbelt must be used at all times. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Our national product register includes a list of special purpose car seats available, or soon to be available, in Australia. This list includes independent information about the products, compliance with standards, and key features designed to support the transport needs of children with disabilities and medical conditions.

Special purpose car seats comply with one or more overseas standards/regulations. MACA's Australian Safety Assessment Program (AuSAP) independently assesses special purpose car seats.

Refer to MACA's national product register to find out more about AuSAP assessed special purpose car seats.

This depends on the child’s individual needs. If there is no Australian standard car seat suitable for a child’s transport needs then a special purpose car seat needs to be considered, regardless of the child’s age.

In most states and territories, you need to carry a medical certificate in the vehicle the child is travelling in when using a special purpose car seat, and in some states an Advice to Parent form. Your child’s allied health professional can give you the documents you need, plus advice to make sure you’re complying with your state or territory's road laws.

Special purpose car seats tend to be heavier than Australian standard child restraints as they are commonly used with optional items such as swivel bases and footrests. This means they can be difficult to move from vehicle to vehicle. It is important your child has a suitable restraint for each vehicle they travel in.

No, because special purpose car seats comply with overseas standards and regulations which have different design and performance requirements.

For example, the European regulation (ECE r129) requires the use of ISOFIX attachments only for installation (no option for using the vehicle seatbelt like Australian standard car seats) - in combination with either a foot prop or top tether.

The HERO-NXT, which complies with ECE r129, uses the foot prop instead of a top tether. This makes it easier to place a child in and out of the car, and enables the use of the swivel base feature.