Children at risk as Australia lags behind other countries on car seat safety, experts say

Experts warn that many parents who are following the law are inadvertently placing their children in increased danger of catastrophic injury or death. Photograph: Edwin Tan/Getty Images. Posed by models

Leading child safety experts are calling for regulations around child car restraints to be brought into line with the medical evidence and similar countries worldwide, saying that “a large proportion” of Australian children are being put in danger of life-altering traumatic injuries or death every day due to inappropriate use of car and booster seats.

The calls come as the state and federal ministers for transport undertake a review of Australia’s child restraint rules, which have been condemned as out of step with safe practice guidelines.