Correct selection, installation and adjustment of child car seats is vital in ensuring children's safety when travelling in vehicles according to Lachlan Shire Council Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor.

Mandatory use of restraints by Australian children when travelling in vehicles was implemented in all states and territories by 1982 but incorrect use of the car seats has contributed to some horrifying statistics.

In 2010, new Australian road rules were implemented across Australia that specified use of age-appropriate restraints for children up to seven years old.

Aiming to help promote awareness around safety regulations, Lachlan, Parkes and Forbes Shire Councils are inviting parents, carers and grandparents of young children to attend one of two free online workshops.

"The workshops will cover the National Child Restraint Laws, types of child car seats available, correct installation and adjustment, when to move to the next car seat, accessories, tips for secondhand car seats and much more," Ms Suitor said.

Research has found that incorrect use of child restraints can influence crash injury outcomes. From 2007 - 2016, 64 child passengers died on NSW roads.

Alarmingly, thirteen of these children (20%) were unrestrained. In 31 per cent of cases, children were using a restraint that was either inappropriate for their age or not used correctly. Incorrect use of restraints was a real issue.

The workshops being conducted by Lachlan Shire Council are the ideal chance for a refreshers. Two hour-long workshops will be held via video link, on Wednesday 22 November.

"It will be a great refresher for grandparents, as child car seats and the rules have changed a lot since they had their children, but also for parents and carers as they are navigating their way through their child or children's growth," Ms Suitor said.

The workshops follow up from local 'checking day' events in the shire which showed that around 80 per cent of the child car seats that were checked were incorrectly installed. 

"Transport for NSW research shows that children who are not restrained correctly are seven times more likely to sustain life-threatening injuries in a crash than those who are properly secured. 

"It is so important to ensure your precious cargo is safe," Ms Suitor said.

These online workshops were the first of their kind when they were trialed in May 2023.

"There were almost 20 families that took part in the May workshops" Ms Suitor said. "Participants rated the workshop 4.75 out of 5, said they would be very likely to recommend it to a friend or family member and were glad they had attended," Ms Suitor said.