Along with the Bugaboo Donkey announcement, this is the biggest news I can think of since becoming pregnant for the first time exactly eight years ago!
After what feels like a lifetime of discussion and more than fifteen years after its introduction in Europe, it’s really happening; ISOFIX will be legal for use in Australia in 2013.
Last year we were fortunate to meet Lotta Jakobsson, a leading worldwide car safety expert who was in Australia to host a special event held by Volvo. Heading up the International Organisation for Standardisation working group on child restraint systems (in road vehicles) she called for an overhaul of Australia’s child car seat regulations.
There was some healthy discussion on our post regarding the issue and we are delighted that ten months down the track, we are hearing the news we have been waiting years for. ISOFIX is an applauded system the world over, tested and tried by millions of parents and now Australian parents and their children will have access to this state-of-the-art child car safety technology.
So how many of our readers are going to embrace ISOFIX next year? If you’re not sure what it’s all about, then read our detailed post from May 2011 - it includes safety statistics as well as a rundown of the ISOFIX system. We’re still waiting on news of the availability of ISOFIX car seats here in Australia.
(via SMH)
22 Comments
Yes! Just ned to get a car with ISOFIX now! This is such good news for Australian kids!
Great news! So much easier to use!
quick couple of questions: looking at the car seat here, makes me think that is rather large, and therefore the front seat would have to be quite forward in order for this seat to fit. What about for people with smaller cars? also what if you have more than one child under 4. some have three, would this still fit? I’m a little confused how this will work. also in a 2 door car etc? My partner is quite tall too, so he legally would be unsafe to drive if he had to move the seat forward.
About time, we have been using an isofix car seat I our Mazda for the past 3 years and have been waiting for the legislation to reflect how brilliant this system works. Most new cars since 2008 have the fixture for isofix points.
So the gnashing of teeth will end?
So much whining…….
Fanstastic!. I’ve been using isofix with my children since living in NZ – nearly 5 years ago – now back in AU. Brilliant!. Feel so safe with this system – great to finally hear it’s been legalised…. Crazy it’s taken so long!.
I used this system when I visited the uk 9 years ago and it is great, but now 3 kids later it’s a little bit late.
we are travelling around the US at the moment and just love the ISOFIX system. it takes ALOT of the stress out of installation and the seat is just visibly so much more secure.
Great news!
Already using it with an extended rear facing seat from overseas – it’s fantastic!
I agree that it is a far better method but if the driver is tall you need a car with more back “room” space or it just won’t fit. Chronic Travel sickness could be a serious medical issue if you have to keep stopping to literally re-hydrate baby. It is bad enough with our farward facing. Hope there is a static strip attached under the back of the car. It does help some people…The special mirrors shown are marvellous but they have to be fitted in such a way that they don’t obscure vision through back window at all….not like the pictures shown. I don’t think you could ever fit one in the middle of the back seat though. With 3 children in seats you already need a car as wide as a Commodore and the seats are touching. Do parents with more than 2 children have to buy people movers ?? A good booster seat literally takes half of the back seat in a Toyota Prius, a lovely economical car to run but unfortunately not practical. The child shown in the photo also cannot stretch his/ her legs at all. In case of emergency the child has to be able to climb over or slide under the portion of seat belt that goes across between the seat and the door. How easily can a child get in and out of the door in and out of the seat, especially if there is 2 seats in a car. It is bad and in some cases dangerous enough now trying to get a baby or toddler in and out of a car manouvreing around the door and the car in the next carpark. Few places have wide parking spots for people to do this in safety. We need to work out how to re-fit adult harnesses to accomodate the problem.
FINALLY!!!!!!!!! but…
You watch ISOFIX seats are going to cost double in Australia then overseas and any bought overseas/online will not be legal here because they won’t have an Australian standards sticker on them. Call me a cynic but the bureaucracy and red tape is not over yet folks.
We have been using the isofix for the last 4 years and have found it very easy to use. At the time my now 4year old was born we researched all the evidence and found this system to be far safer than what Australian standards recommended, so we were happy to use it. Glad its now going to be legal.
What people don’t realise is that, just because your car has isofix doesn’t mean it is legal to use yet? just cause it’s safer (hell yes), you are breaking the law at the moment by letting your child be in a isofix system, your intentions are admired, but if caught you would have to go buy a car seat that complies with aust standards. This system has been legalised in many countries for the last 15 years, why has it taken this long for this to be legalised here? and if the isofix system is to be legalised, will the older law carseats stay on for those who have older model vehicles, cause not everyone can go fork out the money for new a car that has the new system, there must be a catch?
Do you know if “Dodge” is compatible with ISOFIX? I am looking at getting a Dodge Journey….
Brook,
The larger pictures shows a belted ERF (Extended Rearfacing Seat) from Europe – The Britax Multi-Tech.
ERF and isofix are two different issues. But to answer your question:
Space requirements can only be decided upon by the potential buyers. It depends on their height, the car interior, and the baby itself (seat limits). Very contrary to popular belief, it has absolutely nothing to do with the size of the car you own. Quite a number of really small cars happen to be just as roomy inside as a huge 4 wheel drive million dollar people mover. belive me I have tried this, and with exactly THIS seat.
Luckily, if this seat does not leave enough legroom for the adults, then another of the about 18 ERF seats will. There is literally such a seat for every family and every car – where I am located.
Some of these seats have isofix.
Does anyone have any updates on the ISOFIX situation? Our baby is due in April and I would really like an ISOFIX car seat but I can’t find any recent updates on when it is likely to come in.
I can’t believe the government have taken so long to approve this tried and tested device, especially given the number of cheap and dangerous toys that seem to be continually imported from Asia.
I have done some research and found the Maxi Cosi Familyfix Base unit can be purchased for 100 Pounds ($150.00)in the UK. It will be interesting to see how much they retail for in Australia.
I plan on bringing one back with me later in the year. I realize it will not have an Australian Standards label and using it will be breaking the law, but does that really matter when it will have a British kite mark. After all Britain has one of the worlds highest safety standards so its not like I will be compromising my child’s safety.
Screw the government and their so called safety standards procedures. The real reason they have taken so long is because there is nothing in it for them. They would allow the system tomorrow if Gillard could find a way to Tax it.
Is there any update on isofix for use in Oz, when they will go on sale?? I’ve recently moved from the UK to Oz and my daughter is in the first stage carseat which I use with an isofix base! I’m now looking at buying the 2nd stage carseat but would prefer a seat such as Britax Duo Plus which can be fitted with built in isofix or seatbelt with tether!
Unfortunately, it is my understanding that the draft Australian Standard DR (2012) AS/NZS 1754 will require the upper tether, in addition to the standardized ISOFIX/LATCH lower tether.
It would seem to indicate that child restraints purchased in Australia would function on cars in other geographies that use the ISOFIX system, which is not currently the case.
However, I believe it would mean that restraints purchased in these other geographies (which do not contain the Australian upper tether), would not meet the Australian Standard and therefore continue to be illegal.
Also, I would like to make a comment on some of the earlier posters comments about size, please note the use of the ISOFIX system has nothing to do with space requirements. It is only the means by which the child restraint is connected to the automobile. The amount of space required by the restraint is another matter altogether.
Having said that, the draft Australian Standard does introduce two new classes of child restraint, the Extended Rear Facing and another that I do not recall. Space requirements for seats in these two classes will be different from existing classes of child restraints, though this has nothing to do with ISOFIX.
Net/Net, unless there was a public outcry at the draft standard, it will continue to be illegal to purchase a car seat from overseas and use it in Australia, unless the restraint supported the use of the top tethering strap.
About time!
Both my children have only ever travelled in Maxi-Cosi Cabrio Fix and second stage Priorifix. I know if there was ever to be a incident they have more chance of survival.. the stats prove it!
The top rated FF ISOFIX seat in EU is the maxi Cosi Prioifix… They do vary! http://www.which.co.uk publish the independent comparison test results which are done in conjunction with the German automobile club.
So what’s the fine likely to be if you use a uk Isofix xar seat without the top tether. Just trying to figure out worth bringing our maxi cosi priori fix and rodi fix to australia.
I would completely resent paying through the nose for something I already have if they relaxed the top tether requirement.
I am by nature a law abiding citizen but kinda sticks in my throat to cough up loads for somethng I already have, albeit without the five ticks seal of approval!