In Australia by Law a child must remain in a child restraint until they are MINIMUM 7 years old. However to fit safely without a child restraint/booster a child must be 145cm tall AND pass the 5 step test*. Most children do not pass until 10-12years old .
Seatbelts are designed to save ADULT lives yet the same seatbelt can KILL a child who does not fit it correctly.
Most children don't have the strength in bone structure of their pelvis until over 12years old, meaning the lap portion of the seat belt sits across their soft tissue instead of bony prominant's of a pelvis.
Using a booster seat enables the lap portion to sit on the top of their thighs away from internal organs.
Note the picture above showing an adult skeleton vs a child's in relation to where the seatbelt sits.
Please educate your children on the importance of using a child restraint/booster until they fit correctly in an adult seat.
Don't ditch the booster because they turn 7, their friends aren't in one, or because you think "they'll be right".
View this video for a great visual of why kids should remain in boosters until they phsycially fit adult seat belts : https://youtu.be/SRi2bTM4dGY
*5 Step test is listed in another blog
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