Is my Child Old Enough to Stop Using a Booster Seat?

In New Zealand it is recommended that children stay in a booster until they are at least 148cm tall, to help you decide if your child is ready to ride without a booster seat you may like to perform the 5-step test.

If you answer 'no' to any of these questions then it is best to keep your child in their booster until they pass the test!

When you're not out driving, get your child to sit in the back passenger seat of your vehicle, restrain them using the seat belt and go through the following questions.

The 5-step test:

• Do they sit all the way back against the car seat?
• Do their knees bend comfortably at the edge of the car seat?
• Does the safety belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
• Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
• Can they stay seated like this for the whole trip?

Children must be restrained in a car seat that is appropriate for their size until they are 7 years old. From 7 to 8 years old they must use an appropriate child restraint if there is one available in the car. As the driver you are responsible for ensuring children are correctly restrained in your car.