The latest episode of popular kids TV show Bluey has taken a transport focus, with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) encouraging parents and carers to boost road safety awareness following the program.
The episode focuses on where children may legally sit in vehicles on Queensland’s roads, referencing state road rules.
TMR says it has long endorsed Bluey as a positive representation of Queensland, particularly now that the program is helping to educate viewers on road safety.
“I love that the Bluey team took the time to research the road rules for their latest episode,” Queensland TMR minister Bart Mellish says.
“It’s great to see the community engage in a healthy discussion about the safety of children in vehicles following the recent episode of Bluey. It provides a timely reminder for parents to consider both the law and best practice when making a decision.
“Road safety is TMR’s number one priority, and we are particularly committed to equipping parents and carers with the right information to protect children on our roads.”
Since the episode aired, TMR’s social posts regarding rules and best practices have gone viral.
In Queensland, children aged between four and seven can legally sit in the front of a two row vehicles if all other seats are taken by children under seven, but they’re safest in the back seat until age 12.
TMR and Kidsafe Queensland have developed free resources to support parents and carers with decision making, with the National Transport Commission (NTC) also set to conduct a review of the Australian Road Rules relating to child restraints in the 2024-25 financial year.
“Late last year, we released a video series highlighting how to correctly and safely fit child restraints for children of all sizes, taking the mystery out of installing and using many of the different child restraints available,” Mellish says.
“Every driver is responsible for ensuring their passengers are buckled up correctly before starting a journey, and we want to help parents and carers feel confident that they are not just doing the right thing, but the safest thing.
“TMR welcomes the planned review of Australian Road Rules relating to child restraints in the 2024-25 financial year by the National Transport Commission.
“This is a significant step forward in our collective efforts to enhance road safety, particularly for our youngest passengers, by ensuring our child restraint rules remain up to date with emerging best practice.”
Kidsafe Queensland CEO Susan Teerds says the organisation wants to impress upon people these vital road safety laws.
“Consider for example, forward-facing restraints—just because a child is legally old enough to face forward in their restraint, they must meet the minimum height marker before forward facing and are safest if kept rear-facing as long as possible or for as long as they still fit their rear-facing restraint,” Teerds says.
“The same goes for transitioning to an adult seatbelt when your child turns seven. Just because it is legal, doesn’t mean they are big enough to come out of their child restraint and into an adult seat.”