Children over the age of seven-years-old and shorter than 148cm could be made to sit in a car seat if changes to the country's road user system, including increasing the mandatory age of child restraints, go ahead.

Proposed changes to the Ministry of Transport Action Plan for Safer Journeys will increase the mandatory age of restraint requirements from the current five-years-old to seven-years-old if a seat is available.

Amanda-Leigh, 8, stands at around 122cm and will most likely need a car seat. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

It would be mandatory for new-born babies up to the age of six-years-old to use a car seat.

The NZ Transport Agency has released a discussion document as part of its Road User Rule reform proposing changes to the current system that will result in a two-year increase on the mandatory age for child restraints.

The current rules state children aged up to five-years-old must use a car seat.

The discussion document suggests children shorter than 148cm are significantly safer in a booster seat.

NZTA Media manager Andy Knackstedt says the proposed changes are to keep New Zealand children safe.

'The age based requirements apply regardless of height or size. That's additional stuff for people to consider when they're deciding for their own children whether or not it's appropriate to keep them in a child restraint over and above those age requirements.

'For some children it will be appropriate and it will be safest to be in a child restraint.”

If a child is older than seven-years old, but smaller than 148cm, NZTA advises the child be kept in a child restraint.

Pyes Pa mother Charmaine Atkinson's eight-year-old daughter Amanda-Leigh stands at around 122cm.

Charmaine says Amanda-Leigh is often mistaken for a seven-year-old and would have to use a booster seat if the proposed changes go ahead.

'She's always been a tiny child. Because of her height and her weight because she's really small for her age I reckon she'd love it because she'd get to see outside her window.

'It would make her sit higher and it would make her safer because she's so small.”

Charmaine says the mandatory age increase is a good idea and will help Amanda-Leigh to be able to see out the car window.

'I think she'd enjoy it. But if she's got friends in the car she'd probably end up telling me to put the car seat away because she wouldn't want to be embarrassed in front of her friends.

'But I don't know whether she'd take it into consideration that she is older to be put in a car seat, She'd think in her own way that she's too old to be in a cars eat.”

The Motor Trade Association is also in support of Government proposals to clarify and improve vehicle restraint rules for children under seven-years-old.

MTA spokesperson Hamish Stuart understands children are different sizes.

'On a three-point belt, the top strap is designed to go across the passenger's shoulder and chest. If they sit shorter than this, as many children do, it could catch their neck or face in an accident, and cause significant harm.

'Naturally, we support anything that is effective in helping motorists travel as safely as possible.”

The change will bring New Zealand in line with Australian rules.

The proposed changes are expected to be implemented in October this year.

An education campaign and an appropriate lead-in period before changes come into effect will assist with the transition.

To make a submission visit http://www.nzta.govt.nz/consultation/child-restraints-amendment/submission-form.html

Alternatively submissions can be emailed to [email protected]

Submissions close 5pm on April 3 2013.