Child safety

Child abduction alerts

Northern Territory (NT) Police will release child abduction alerts through:

  • local media
  • the NT Police media release page
  • the NT Police Facebook page.

The NT Police child abuse taskforce (CAT) investigates reports of serious and complex child abuse.

To contact police call 131 444. In an emergency or life-threatening situation, you should call 000.

Child safety in your backyard

Teach your children to play safely with outdoor equipment and other children.

Clean up rubbish in the yard.

Keep outdoor tools and equipment locked away safely where children can't play with or be injured by them.

Check your yard for poisonous plants such as oleander and lantana. Remove or fence off these plants.

Teach your children how high they can go if there is a tree they like to climb and how to get down safely. Let them know they can only climb if an adult is present.

Keep sheds locked and garden products and tools locked away.

More information

For more ideas, activities and tips go to the 7 Steps to Safety page on the Department of Children and Families website.

Children and falls at home

Falls are the most common cause of injury to children. 

For little children, falls are most likely to happen on stairs and with baby furniture such as prams, pushers and high chairs.

For older children, the cause is more likely to be associated with playground equipment, trampolines or playing sport.

How to prevent falls

Use five-point harnesses in high chairs, prams and pushers.

Install door gates and stair barriers to stop younger children and toddlers getting up or down stairs. Kidsafe NT warns against baby walkers, which can lead to falls and other injuries.

Don't have bunk beds when there are toddlers living in the house.

Don't leave young children alone on beds, couches, change tables, high chairs or playground equipment.

Teach your toddler how to climb down from beds and chairs at the same time they are learning to climb up. 

Teach children how high they can go if there is a tree they like to climb, and how to get down safely. Let them know they can only climb when an adult is present.

Make sure raised heavy items such as televisions and furniture can't fall or be pulled over.

Put impact-absorbing material under playground equipment such as swings and slides. Make sure all play equipment is in a shady place to protect children from skin cancer and burns from hot surfaces.

If possible, set trampolines into the ground. Cover the springs with absorbent padding and keep a watch over your children.

Children and fans

Make it a rule to not play on beds near ceiling fans and in areas where children can fall and be injured.

More information

For more ideas, activities and tips go to the 7 Steps to Safety page on the Department of Children and Families website.

Children and storm safety

Teach your children what to do in a storm.

They should:

  • not use the phone
  • not use the computer
  • not go swimming.

Have torches ready for blackouts.

If you live in an area where there might be cyclones, bushfires or flooding, make sure your family has a plan and everyone knows what to do.

For ideas, activities and tips go to the Department of Children and Families website.

Pipes and drains campaign

Royal Life Saving Society NT's Stay Out of Pipes and Drains safety awareness campaign reminds Territorians of the dangers of swimming in pipes and drains this wet season.

Read about the campaign on the Royal Life Saving website.

Children and sun safety

Whenever possible keep children in the shade. Make sure their favourite play areas are shaded. 

Remember that children can get sunburnt on cold and cloudy days.

In the sun use a hat and clothing that covers your child's arms and legs. At the beach, use sunsuits instead of bathers.

Use a 30-plus sunscreen for children, one that is labelled for sensitive skin.

Zinc cream is a very effective sunblock.

Apply sunscreen to areas not covered by clothing. You should reapply often, particularly if children are swimming.

Sunlight through the glass of car windows can burn the skin. You can use blinds that can be used on car windows.

More information

For more ideas, activities and tips go to the 7 Steps to Safety page on the Department of Children and Families website.

Children, vehicles, bikes and skateboards

This page contains information about keeping your child safe around vehicles, bikes and devices such as scooters, skateboards, Segways, pennyboards, ripsticks, roller skates and rollerblades.

In the Northern Territory (NT), children under four years of age must not be in the front row of seats in a vehicle with two or more rows.

Children four to under seven years of age can only sit in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows when all other seats are occupied by children of a lesser age.

When in a vehicle all children under seven must be in a fitted and approved child restraint suited to their age, size and weight.

Read more about child restraints.

You should never:

  • leave your keys in the car - children have crashed their parents' car or have become trapped in power windows
  • leave children or pets locked in a car
  • leave a young child alone in a car - they may:
    • get bored and explore the car's knobs and buttons
    • become distressed or try to struggle free from seatbelts and get injured
    • be in danger of someone trying to steal the car with them in it
    • become seriously ill when the temperature in the car increases quickly - this can happen in any season.

You should always:

  • check your children are in a safe place before backing your car out of the driveway - put them in the car with you when moving it
  • when driving always stop the car when you need to turn around to attend to your child in the back seat - it's easy to get distracted and have an accident
  • make sure there is nothing loose on the dashboard, parcel shelf or floor - even a box of tissues can cause harm in an accident
  • never put anything heavy in the back of a hatchback or station wagon unless it is safely secured
  • make fences and gates childproof so young children can't get near traffic
  • hold on to young children near roads - even if they can repeat road rules to you, they don't understand them yet, no matter how many times you tell them.

In the NT, children aged under 17 years must wear a helmet when riding a bike.

You should make sure your child wears a helmet and safety gear such as wrist guards, elbow and knee pads when using a scooter, skateboard, Segway, pennyboard, ripstick, roller skates or rollerblades.

Teach your child relevant road rules.

For more ideas, activities and tips go to the 7 Steps to Safety page on the Department of Children and Families website.

Choking, suffocating and children

There are steps you can take to help prevent your child from choking or suffocating.

Check there are no small objects or coins left lying around.

Keep small batteries from things like cameras and toys away from toddlers - button batteries can cause very serious injuries if swallowed.

Tie a knot in the middle of empty plastic bags so your child can't pull them over their head.

Replace dummies before they become worn.

Some old or antique cots and high chairs are not safe for young children - use a cot or port-a-cot that meets Australian Standards.

Keep cords or ribbons on toys, dummies and clothing short - less than 10cm - so they can't choke your child.

Cords on curtains and blinds need to be short or secured up high and out of reach.

Don't give your baby or infant hard pieces of food such as nuts, apple or raw carrot.

Give them cooked or grated vegetables. Sit toddlers down to eat and supervise them.

Don't force your child to eat anything they don't want.

Check toys and play equipment regularly for sharp edges, splinters and loose parts.

Make sure the surface under climbing frames and swings is soft and impact absorbing.

Toys for young children should not have small, loose parts that can be broken off and swallowed. Keep older children's toys with small pieces and small batteries away from toddlers.

Don't use baby walkers - they can cause serious injuries. They can cause delays in learning to walk if used frequently.

For more ideas, activities and tips go to the 7 Steps to Safety page on the Department of Children and Families website.

Dog bites and children

Dogs don't often bite children, but when they do they can cause injury. It can be frightening.

Most dog bites to children are by the family dog or a dog owned by friends.

Many bites that need hospital treatment are to a child's head or face.

Always supervise small children around dogs.

It's a good idea to have a secure area where your dog can be by itself away from children.

Teach your children to have a healthy respect for all dogs, including your own.

If you are getting a new dog, get some advice about the type of dog that would best suit your situation.

Make sure all your family takes some responsibility for your dog's behaviour and training.

Contact your local vet or the RSPCA if you need more information or help.

For more ideas, activities and tips go to the 7 Steps to Safety page on the Department of Children and Families website.

Drowning and water safety

Most children who drown are under four years old. It happens very quickly and quietly.

Most of these children drown in their own or a friend's pool.

Young children can drown in just a few centimetres of water.

Many children are hospitalised and can suffer long-term damage from near-drowning accidents.

Prevent drowning at your home

Stay and watch young children and be at arm's length when they are in or near water.

This includes in the bath, swimming pool or spa, at the beach, and near creeks, rivers and dams.

Don't expect older children to supervise.

Make sure young children can't get to buckets and other containers holding water.

Keep nappy buckets covered and out of reach - the water and chemicals are dangerous for young children.

Empty toddler pools and plastic baths and store them upright.

Pools and spas

Cover backyard ponds with a fixed grill with spaces no bigger than 2.5cm.

Enrol older children and adults in a first-aid course.

Enrol younger children in an accredited water safety course. Teach your child how to behave in and around water.

Read more about pool safety.

More information

For more ideas, activities and tips, go to the Department of Children and Families website.

Fire, electrical safety and children

House fires start in a number of ways. Some fires happen when children play with matches, lighters and electricity, at home or in vehicles.

You should also read about fire safety at home.

Install a smoke detector and check the battery regularly.

Keep matches and lighters away from children.

Keep heaters away from curtains, furniture, clothing and bedding.

If using candles or oil burners, place them on a safe surface away from curtains or bedding. Never leave them lit when you leave the room, even for a little while.

Watch children closely around barbecues and campfires. Make sure campfires are properly put out and covered.

Use fireguards on open fires, gas or oil heaters, pot belly stoves and radiators.

Always keep keys for locked external doors within reach of the door.

Have a fire extinguisher or fire blanket in the kitchen, nearby but away from the stove or oven.

If a child has a burn, cool the burnt area under running cold water for at least 20 minutes. Never use ice to cool the skin. If the burn is bigger than a 20-cent piece, see a doctor or take your child to the hospital.

When someone dies in a house fire, it's usually from smoke or poisonous fumes.

Teach your child the following:

  • yell and bang on the walls to let your family know of danger
  • don't open a door that's hot to touch - fire may be on the other side
  • walk, don't run, from a burning building
  • crawl under smoke - get down low and go away from the fire
  • stop, drop and roll if your clothes catch on fire - stop walking, drop to the ground and roll to put out the fire
  • treat any burns with cool running water
  • have a meeting place outside that everyone knows about
  • don't go back inside for pets or valuables.

Close your eyes or cover them with a scarf and practice finding your way out of the house.

Make it fun so your children don't get scared but they will know what to do.

Tell your children to crawl to keep under smoke. Practice 'get down low and go, go, go' and 'stop, drop and roll'.

Practice getting out from different rooms.

Have more than one way to get out the house and meet at your special meeting place outside.

Have a circuit breaker installed in your fuse box or switchboard. It will switch off the power if there is an electrical fault.

Check all electrical appliances for frayed cords, smoke or loose wiring.

Don't overload power points. Think about using a surge-protector for electronic and electrical devices.

Make sure all electrical appliances and their cords are out of reach of children.

Cover power points with plastic protectors to stop children poking things in them.

Be careful of electrical appliances near water - it's easy to get electrocuted.

Don't use electric blankets for young children.

Use only wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted fans in the bathroom. Install wall-mounted heaters up high.

For more ideas, activities and tips go to the 7 Steps to Safety page on the Department of Children and Families website.

Leaving your child home alone

In the Northern Territory (NT) there is no law that tells you the age your child needs to be before you can leave them at home alone.

Under the law parents are responsible for caring for their child and keeping them safe.

Parents can be charged with an offence if children are left alone in a dangerous situation and are not fed, clothed or provided with adequate shelter.

The police or Department of Children and Families can remove a child from situations where there is a danger to their health or safety.

There are many things to think about when deciding whether your child can be left at home on their own. These include:

  • safety
  • the ages of your children
  • how mature and capable they are
  • whether they understand the rules
  • whether they could cope in an emergency.

This page includes tips on how to decide when you can safely leave your child at home alone and how you can prepare them.

Follow this checklist to help decide if your child is ready to stay at home alone.

Check how each child feels about being home on their own

If your child is frightened to be on their own, talk to them about it.

If they are scared of something specific, like the sound of a tree banging against the window, then sometimes just helping your child to work out what they are frightened of can make their fear go away.

If their fear is a more general one, then making your child stay home alone could be terrifying for them. Wait until they are older and more confident before you let them stay home on their own.

Check the safety of your house and neighbourhood

Check that your house is safe.

Find a trusted person who lives or works nearby to help your child if needed.

Read more about child safety.

See Step 1: Make your place safe on the 7 Steps to Safety page of the Department of Children and  Families website.

Check if each child can physically manage on their own

Check if your child is tall and strong enough to open and close doors and windows and turn on light switches at home.

If they need to stand on a chair to reach, then they are not big enough yet to stay at home safely.

Make sure your child is able to safely manage simple jobs, like getting a snack ready.

Check if each child can make safe decisions

As children get older, they get better at being able to plan and predict - but they still don't think in the same way as adults.

To stay home alone your child needs to be grown-up enough to think about what may happen if they don't follow a rule or if something unexpected happens.

You can play a what-if game to help you work out if your child is thinking safely.

See Step 6: Ready Yet? on the 7 Steps to Safety page of the Department of Children and Families website.

If most of your child's answers are unsafe, then they are probably not ready to be left on their own.

Check if each child is responsible enough

Check that each child can find safe, active and interesting things to do when they're at home on their own. Help them to get into a routine of things to do, especially after school.

Think about whether your child will follow your family rules when you are not at home.

Check that your child can talk about their feelings

Check in with your child about how they are feeling and encourage them to tell you if something goes wrong.

Help them to recognise when they are feeling unsafe or scared. Let them know they can talk to you, or to someone else they trust.

Check how you can support your child

Work out ways to supervise and support your child when they are home alone. You could arrange to phone them, or for a trusted neighbour to check on them.

Get home when you say, or let your child know if you are going to be late. An extra half hour can seem a very long time if your child is worried or frightened.

Check that you have prepared your child to be on their own

It’s important that your child knows how to handle unexpected situations at home.

Check that you have a list of emergency contacts somewhere easy to see and that your child knows what to do in an emergency. Help them to practice.

See Step 5: Emergency on the 7 Steps to Safety page of the Department of Children and Families website.

The following rules and tips can help you and your child prepare for staying home alone.

Have clear rules and make sure that each child understands them

You may need to have different rules for when your child is at home on their own, or home with brothers and sisters.

This could include rules about things such as playing inside and outside, answering the phone or door, family pets, using technology and friends coming over.

Don’t assume your child knows the rules. Ask them to tell you the rules, and to show you what they would do in a situation. Younger children can know a rule but still act without thinking.

See Step 2: Cool tools for family rules on the 7 Steps to Safety page of the Department of Children and Families website. This brochure has ideas on how to make rules with your child that can help keep them safe.

When preparing your child for staying home alone, make sure they know the following:

  • how to use the home or mobile phone to contact you, neighbours, friends, family and emergency services on 000 - see Step 5: Emergency on the 7 Steps to Safety page of the Department of Children and Families website.
  • their own phone number and home address - emergency services will need to know where to go
  • where to find the first-aid kit and how to use it
  • how to use keys in deadlocks and how to unbolt them, if needed
  • what to do if there is a fire - what to do if a smoke alarm sounds and how to use a fire extinguisher or fire blanket
  • how to judge if a child is unwell and needs help.

It is not fair to expect an older child to care for younger brothers and sisters. They might resent being asked to do it and younger children can resent being told what to do.

It can be especially challenging if any children are unwell, have difficult behaviours, or a disability which requires extra care and consideration. The oldest child is not always the most capable to care for other children.

You could be held responsible if something goes wrong when a person under 18 years old is caring for younger children.

If you decide to leave your children in the care of an older brother or sister or other young person, the following strategies can help:

  • make sure all the children know who is in charge and that they are confident and happy about it
  • set clear rules, displayed for everyone to see, and make sure everyone understands them - get the step 2: cool tools for family rules brochure from the 7 Steps to Safety page on the Department of Children and Families website.
  • if the children are close in age, make sure each one is responsible for themselves - you can only do this if all the children are grown up enough to follow the family rules and help each other out
  • help them work out what to do if there are things they often argue about when you are out - eg: watching TV or doing jobs around the house
  • make sure your children know and have practiced what to do in an emergency and have a list of emergency contacts - get the step 5: emergency brochure from the 7 Steps to Safety page on the Department of Children and Families website.
  • if you are leaving a mobile phone with your child, program contact phone numbers into it
  • write down any instructions and keep them visible
  • if friends are allowed over, make sure their parents know you won’t be home
  • be realistic in what you expect - older children are still children and it may not be fair to leave them in charge of younger ones, especially overnight.

Babies and toddlers should never be left at home alone, even for a short time. It is unsafe and could be stressful for them.

Imagine what could happen if you left your sleeping baby at home while you picked up your child from preschool and then you had an accident and could not get home quickly.

If you and your child feel confident that they are ready and prepared to stay at home alone, the following tips can help you start:

  • start with short periods of time - try 10 minutes to see how it goes
  • check with each child about how it went - ask if they felt safe or if there was anything they were worried about
  • try something else if it doesn’t work - maybe that child is not ready yet
  • talk about the family rules regularly - children sometimes forget and you will need to remind them
  • regularly go through the checklist of how to know if your child is ready.

For more information or to find out where you can get support go to the following websites.

Child health, learning and development

Raising Children Network
Department of  Children and Families - 7 Steps to Safety

Counselling services

Kids Helpline
Parentline

Product safety

Kidsafe NT

Poisons and children

The kitchen, bathroom, laundry and garden shed can contain dangerous substances.

These can cause poisoning or chemical burns if swallowed, or burn a child's skin or eyes.

Children may not know the difference between containers that hold food and drink and those that hold chemicals and detergents.

Keep the poisons hotline number handy and in your phone. Call 13 11 26.

Put child-resistant locks on laundry, kitchen and bathroom cupboards that contain medicines, cleaning products and toiletries. This includes deodorants, perfume and shaving lotions.

Use a child-resistant medicine cupboard for all medicines, including oral contraceptives. Don't leave them on top of your bedside table or in the drawers.

Check that visitors don't leave bags with tablets in them within your child's reach.

Keep alcohol and medicines locked away from children.

Don't store things like chemicals and cleaning products in food containers. Keep them in their original containers with child-resistant lids.

Keep medicines and pills in their original packaging. Ask your local pharmacist how to get rid of old medicines.

For more information, go to the following websites:

For more ideas, activities and tips go to the 7 Steps to Safety page on the Department of Children and Families website.

Scalds and children

Serious scalds or burns can be caused by children turning on the hot-water tap or by being put into a scalding hot bath.

Other scalds are caused by hot liquids from drinks, kettles, jugs, saucepans, and microwaved food such as two-minute noodles.

How to prevent scalds at home

Make sure the thermostat control on your hot-water system is set below 50 degrees Celsius.

Run cold water into the bath first and always test it before bathing your child.

Keep electrical cords, jugs and irons out of reach of children.

Never have hot drinks such as tea or coffee when you are holding your child.

Be careful with cooking when children are around.

Keep hot things back from the edge of tables. Turn the saucepan handles away from the edge of the stove. Use a stove guard.

Have a fire extinguisher or fire blanket in the kitchen that is easy to get to.

Use placemats instead of table cloths.

Use short or curly electrical cords that don't hang over the sides of benches.

If a child has a scald, cool the burnt area under running cold water for at least 20 minutes. Never use ice to cool the skin. If the scald is bigger than a 20-cent piece, see a doctor or take your child to the hospital. 

Keep electrical cords, jugs and irons out of the reach of children.

More information

For more ideas, activities and tips go to the 7 Steps to Safety page on the Department of Children and Families website.

Working with children clearance: appeals

This page has information for people who want to apply for a legal review of a refusal by the Northern Territory Screening Authority over a working with children clearance.

Read about how to get legal advice before applying for a court review.

How to review a decision

You must contact the Local Court within 28 working days of receiving the screening authority letter that denies you a working with children clearance.

Go to the Attorney-General's Department website for contact details.

The decision of the screening authority is binding until the review decision is made.

What is reviewed

The review will be conducted as a new hearing.

The judge will consider all the information you provided to the screening authority in your application, and any other information you provide.

Review outcomes

The Local Court may do any of the following:

  • confirm the screening authority’s decision
  • vary the decision
  • set the decision aside
  • set the decision aside and replace it with the court’s own decision
  • make a decision about the costs of the review proceedings.

Working with children clearance: apply and renew

To work or volunteer with children in the Northern Territory (NT), you must apply for a working with children clearance (Ochre Card).

The following application fees:

  • $87 - if paid employment (including student placement)
  • $8 - if volunteering
  • $34 - if replacing a lost, damaged or stolen card.

Before you apply

With your application, you must include:

  • your identity documents:
    • original copies - if applying in person
    • scanned copies in GIF, JPG, PDF, PNG or TIFF format - if applying online or by mail
  • a passport-sized photo - if not applying in person at SAFE NT.

To pay the reduced volunteer fee, you must also include a volunteer declaration form PDF (256.2 KB).

This form must be completed by your volunteering organisation.

How to apply

You can apply online, in person or by mail.

Online

You can apply online via the NT Police SAFE NT website. It is fast and easy to complete. You can also:

  • renew your card
  • check your renewal date
  • change your details
  • request a replacement card
  • check the progress of an online application.

You must complete the application in one sitting. You can't save your information and return to it.

Apply online

In person or by mail

To apply in person or by mail, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the relevant form:

If applying by mail, fill in the payment option on your form or provide a bank cheque. Do not send cash.

Step 2. Attach the following supporting documents:

  • identity documents
  • a passport-sized photo (if applicable)
  • volunteer declaration form (if applicable).

Step 3. Submit your application:

Contact

SAFE NT
Ground floor, NAB building - enter via the pedestrian laneway adjacent to the Dragonfly car park
71 Smith Street
Darwin NT 0800
safent.police@pfes.nt.gov.au

GPO Box 39764
Winnellie NT 0821

Phone: 1800 723 368 (1800 SAFE NT)

Opening hours are Monday to Thursday from 8:30am to 4pm and Friday from 9:30am to 4pm. Closed public holidays and weekends.

Child car seats

In the Northern Territory (NT), all children under the age of 7 must use a car seat when travelling in a vehicle.

A car seat:

  • reduces the chance of serious injury or death from a car crash
  • protects your child from being ejected from the vehicle.

You must use the right car seat for your child’s age and size and it must be fitted correctly.

Car seat challenges

Some children may need extra support in their car seats. This could be because of a:

  • disability
  • permanent or temporary medical condition.

Some children also learn how to unbuckle themselves while travelling.

If you need further advice or support, go to the Mobility and Accessibility for Children and Adults (MACA) website.

Types of seats

Depending on your child’s age, you may need a car seat that is:

  • rear facing – must be used for children from birth to 6 months
  • forward-facing  – can be used from 6 months to 7 years
  • booster seat – can be used from 4 years to 7 years.

Seat adjustments

Get familiar with the minimum height markers on your child's seat. These markers will help guide you for when it's time to move to a forward-facing seat or a bigger seat.

As your child grows, you will need to check if their straps need adjusting. The straps should sit just above your child’s shoulders.

Buying a new car seat

Car seats will clearly display what age group they are intended to be used for.

All seats sold in Australia must meet Australian Standards (AS/NZS1754, version, 2004, 2010 or 2013). This is identified with a sticker on the hard plastic shell of the seat. The sticker will have 5 white ticks on a red background.

The Australian Standard is one of the most stringent in the world. If you purchased a car seat from overseas, it may not meet this standards and cannot be legally used.

Used car seats

If you’d like to reuse a car seat, you must be certain that it:

  • meets the Australian Standard – look for the sticker
  • is not more than 10 years old
  • has not been in a crash
  • is not damaged - free of cracks or splits to the plastic shell or buckle
  • is in working condition - strong adjustable straps, the buckle locks and unlocks.

Anchor points in cars

Car seats will either use an:

  • anchor point and seatbelt or
  • anchor point and ISOFIX fitting.

ISOFIX fittings are metal clips between each of the rear passenger seats.

Anchor points are normally located:

  • on the car ceiling or
  • behind the rear passenger seat.

All modern cars will have anchor points, while some will have ISOFIX. Check your vehicle is compatible with the car seat you intend to buy.

Read more about child restraints and anchorages PDF (129.3 KB).

Safety checks

Regularly check that:

  • the straps are adjusted to the height of your child
  • the tether strap and the harness are not twisted and are properly connected
  • your child is below the height markers of the car seat
  • you can fit only 1 finger between the child and their car seat straps.

Putting a car seat in

A car seat must be put in correctly for it to be safe.

Use the instructions that came with your seat. If you don’t have the instructions, check the manufacturer's website.

Kidsafe NT and other experts in road safety recommend the rear centre seat as the safest position because it offers extra protection in side collisions. If the rear centre seat isn't an option, the rear left passenger side seat is the next safest choice as it will typically be away from traffic and closes to the road side.

For more information, go to the KidsSafeNT website.

When to start using passenger seats

Passenger seats can be used by children older than 7 years of age who have outgrown their car seat.

The back seat gives more protection in a crash than front seats, it is recommended that you fill the back seats first.

Using the front seat

If all the back seat rows are occupied by younger children, a child older than 4 years can sit in the front with the appropriate car seat.

If there are no back seats such as a single cab ute or van, the front seat can be used with the right car seat for the child. However, most car makers will advise against placing rear-facing car seats in front seats, due to concerns about airbag deployment in a car accident.

Children older than 7 years can also ride in the front if necessary.

Taxis and buses

Taxis do not have to provide child seats, but must:

  • use an approved car seat if available
  • not seat a child under 4 years of age in the front
  • only allow a child older than 4 years to sit in the front when all other seats are occupied by younger children.

On buses with more than 12 seats, car seats are not required. However, minibuses or small buses with less than 12 seats must use a car seat.