Seatbelts, child restraints and phone laws in Australian Capital Territory

By the end of this topic you can

• You can wear a seatbelt correctly and check your passengers are restrained.
• You can explain the child restraint rule for children under 7.
• You can state exactly what the phone ban means for learners and P platers.
• You can set up music and navigation safely before you drive.
• You can name the demerit points for phone and seatbelt offences.

What you need to know and understand

• Everyone in the car must wear a correctly adjusted and fastened seatbelt or approved child restraint.
• The driver is legally responsible for making sure passengers are properly restrained.
• Children under 7 must use an approved child restraint suitable for their age and size.
• Learner and provisional drivers must not use a mobile device at all while driving, including hands-free, Bluetooth or speaker calls.
• L and P drivers may listen to audio or use GPS only if it was set up before driving, the device is not held, and they do not interact with it at all, including by voice.
• Messaging, social media or app use carries 4 demerit points; other illegal phone use carries 3 demerit points.
• A driver not wearing a seatbelt, or failing to make sure a passenger is restrained, faces 3 demerit points.

The L and P phone ban in plain terms

• No calls of any kind, even hands-free or on speaker.
• No texting, voice-to-text, social media, video or photos.
• No touching the phone, a smartwatch or the CarPlay or Android Auto screen, even to skip a song.
• The ban applies while moving and while stopped in traffic, such as at red lights. You must be parked to use your phone.
• A phone in your pocket or bag is fine as long as you do not use it.

Wearing a seatbelt properly

The belt should be firm and flat, with no twists. The lap part sits low across your hips and the sash across your chest and shoulder, never under your arm or behind your back. A seat that is reclined a long way stops the belt working properly. Airbags are designed to work with a seatbelt, not instead of one.

For children 7 and over, keep using a suitable booster until they are tall enough for an adult belt. Kidsafe ACT can check that a child restraint is fitted correctly.

Other distractions

• Set the temperature, mirrors and music before moving off.
• Ask a passenger to navigate or handle messages.
• Do not eat, apply make-up or reach into the back seat while driving.
• If you feel tired, stop and rest; fatigue is as dangerous as distraction.

Common mistakes

• Taking a hands-free call on your Ps because full licence holders can. The full ban applies to you.
• Touching the phone at a red light. You are not parked, so it is still illegal.
• Wearing the sash under your arm because it rubs your neck. Adjust the seat or belt height instead.
• Forgetting to check that young passengers are buckled in. The driver is responsible.

Test yourself: Seatbelts, child restraints and phone laws in Australian Capital Territory

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.