Ask an expert

What are the requirements for a child travelling in a vintage car (open)?

Lee

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 23 April 2010

Refer to the rules on seat belts below taken from the Land Transport New Zealand website.

Your responsibilities as the driver

As the driver, you must make sure that any child under five years is properly restrained by an approved child restraint. They must not travel in the car if you can't put them in an approved child restraint.

Children aged five to seven years must use a child restraint if there's one available. Otherwise they must use a safety belt if one is available. If there are no child restraints or safety belts available, they must travel in the back seat.

Children aged 8 to 14 years must use a safety belt if one is available. Otherwise, they must travel in the back seat.

Note: A child under 15 years old may sit beside the driver only if the child is restrained by a child restraint or safety belt (whichever is appropriate for their age).

Exceptions to the law

A child doesn't have to be in an approved child restraint if they're travelling in a:

Vintage vehicle (first registered before 1955) that isn't fitted with safety belts
Goods service vehicle (eg, a truck, van or utility) with an unladen weight over 2,000 kg that isn't fitted with safety belts
Passenger service vehicle (eg, taxi, shuttle, bus) that isn't fitted with safety belts.
However, where a safety belt is available in any of these vehicles, the child must be restrained, and where an approved child restraint is available, it must be used (where appropriate for the child's age and weight).