seat belt rules victoria Page 265

Victoria keeps it simple: if the car has seat belts, everyone must wear one, properly adjusted and clicked in—no “just around the corner” excuses. Children need age‑appropriate restraints: under 6 months rear‑facing; 6 months to under 4 years rear‑ or forward‑facing with an inbuilt harness; 4 to under 7 years forward‑facing or booster. Under 7s don’t sit in the front unless the back is full (and never the front for under 4s). Drivers are responsible for passengers under 16 being correctly restrained, so “he unbuckled himself” won’t charm a highway patrol. Fines and demerit points apply because seat belts save lives, not wardrobes.