Isofix.....

[shan23]

Just a bit of musing about ISOFIX, when it comes in, does that mean we can import a carseat from NZ so we can use an ERF seat? Seeing as they have the same standard as us. That would be super dooper awesome!

Hmmm but wait, can ISOFIX even be installed in your car? Dont think DP would be willing to get a brand new car just so I can buy a $500 car seat from NZ to use with our eventual next baby LOL!

[Muppity]

As far as I am aware you can't have isofix installed in your car - it is effectively part of the seat frame. but our isofix carseat has seatbelt fittings as well - I'm not sure about the ERF fitting re seatbelts fitting as we never used ours rear facing - maybe email the supplier and ask the question.

[LimeSlice]

No. It will still be illegal to import seats that haven't been tested and received an Australian Standard. the car seat companies are developing eats for the Australian market that will still need to pass Aust Standards, and as far as they have been able to tell me, that doesn't include ERF even after ISOFIX is introduced.

[Caz_88]

Lime slice..... Have you heard anything in regards to when the seats are likely to be available?

I'm going to be pretty peeved if we can't get one in time for our July bubba. I think I will seriously look into a NZ one.... simply because they have the same performance standards as Australia and I know the basic outline for the Australian ISOFIX standard (will still need top teather etc). I'm seriously not going to pay $500 for a hassle filled seatbelt seat only to spend another $500 6 months later..... I really really hate the idea of the old seatbelt secured style.........

Just as a BTW I think there will possibly be the opportunity to retrofit cars. I know of a guy that fits the top teather points who was looking into courses on how to do it. Also in my Toyota Carolla the ISOFIX is actually an independent bracket bolted to the car body, not the seats, so I think it would be very possible to retrofit. The afore mentioned guy was willing to retrofit them to our old X-trail and do load and stress tests etc for it. However, no standard existed at the time and he could only work off the euro standard and certify his work after the development of AUS standards. We ended up selling the car because it was too much work and bought another Toyota lol

[sepata]

We don't have a car with isofix but we do have a car seat imported from nz so we can erf. If it were me I would just do it anyway.

[willow5]

Like LimeSlice said ISOFIX doesn't mean we get to ERF We also can't share international standards as NZ can so it will still be illegal to use an imported seat. The Aust approved seats released will have the same weight limits for rear-facing as the one we have now.

Cazz88, I'm not sure NZ actually manufacture too many, if any seats themselves. They share our standard and they are also allowed to share the standards of some other countries therefore have access to a wider variety of seats IYKWIM. So importing from NZ doesn't necessarily mean the standard that seat will have is similar to ours. It could be European/UK or US standard approved.

[~Raven~]

I would be reluctant to use an imported car seat that hasn't been approved for Australian use because I doubt that you would be covered by the TAC or your insurance if you had an accident. Even though we have isofix in our car I'd prefer to stick with what we've got because of that reason.

[Chrispe]

Just as a BTW I think there will possibly be the opportunity to retrofit cars. I know of a guy that fits the top teather points who was looking into courses on how to do it. Also in my Toyota Carolla the ISOFIX is actually an independent bracket bolted to the car body, not the seats, so I think it would be very possible to retrofit. The afore mentioned guy was willing to retrofit them to our old X-trail and do load and stress tests etc for it. However, no standard existed at the time and he could only work off the euro standard and certify his work after the development of AUS standards. We ended up selling the car because it was too much work and bought another Toyota lol

was asking my brother (MTA approved mechanic and modifier) and he seems to think there will be a mod kit coming out, but whether it it here next year or in a few years time he doesn't know. Basically similar theory to installing baby seat bolt holes in older vehicles that did have them standard.

[buliej]

We have a 2008 VW that has isofix. We have an ERF imported from the US made by Britax (same company as SnS). My almsot 2 year old sits RF'ing and I plan on keeping him RF'ing for as long as possible. My understanding is that technically, we could get a tkt. I'm willing to risk that in exchange for the proven safety benefits of ERF'ing. If we have an accident, insurance wouldn't cover replacing the car seat but I believe it would have no further consequences in terms of coverage. Again - it is proven to be so much safer that we are willing to wear that as well. OH - and like everything else - the britax costs half as much as any AUS SnS car seat and based on my extensive research is safer bc of ERF.

[buliej]

Ps our seat can be installed using standard seat belts but isofix is so easy!-

[LimeSlice]

If we have an accident, insurance wouldn't cover replacing the car seat but I believe it would have no further consequences in terms of coverage.

This is what I have been advised by my insurance company - unless the seat itself caused the accident, its being fitted in the car is irrelevant to my coverage paying out in the event of an accident. The seat would not be replaced though.

[Astrid]

If something was to go wrong in an accident you could well be blamed for not using an Aus standard seat. Tac are hard enough to deal at the best of times and know from when I was an insurance investigator that insurance companies can sometimes find anything to deny a claim.

Also if the seat is faulty what recourse do you have if it is purchased overseas?

[Caz_88]

Astrid, that is true, but a child is covered by comp third party and TAC as they are not at fault and had no choice. I know of a guy that killed himself drunk driving and his family still got TAC payout. I know that my insurance company is the same as buliej and limeslice. They will payout because most companies are international and know ISOFIX is better. There could well be legal ramifications foe the parents afterwards but considering the statistical differences for infant road deaths comparing Australia to euro, its a risk I think I'd be willing to take. Being friends with a cop, she said she would have no idea about car seats other than the child should be firmly fitted and a top teather in place. I think you would have to get a thorough roads and transport safety check to get picked up....
I will be thoroughly researching before I go ahead with importing a seat. However it is more a question of whether seats will be available for our bub. The legislation should be well and truly in place by then so I will be able to fully analyse any seat and find one that meets Australian standards, even if they haven't been tested here yet.

[LimeSlice]

In terms of warranty, the seat itself is still covered by its own warranty regardless of which country it is used or purchased in - that has nothing to do with local law, but is a matter for the manufacturing company. If a seat is faulty, you claim it like you would any other faulty product.

[willow5]

Caz there is a chance of legal action against the parents to re-coup any money paid for medical treatment by TAC (or equivalent in your state) if they are found to have been negligent in using a seat that is not Australian approved, as it is illegal. There hasn't been a case of this yet, but it is possible if someone decides they want to make a point or an example. All things to think about.

[Caz_88]

There would be a vast difference between being charged with using an illegal seat and being sued for negligence. IMHO, I Think any court would have a hard time finding negligence when there are so many studies etc proving otherwise.... youvwould simply go to court and they would have to prove that the child would be safer in an Australian seat.... which I think would be near impossible.... legal eagles please correct me if I'm wrong

[willow5]

There would be a vast difference between being charged with using an illegal seat and being sued for negligence. IMHO, I Think any court would have a hard time finding negligence when there are so many studies etc proving otherwise.... youvwould simply go to court and they would have to prove that the child would be safer in an Australian seat.... which I think would be near impossible.... legal eagles please correct me if I'm wrong

That's what I think too Caz. Negligence would have to be proven first, ie: that the seat you used was less safe than an Australian approved seat. I'm not sure how it works legally as to which party has to provide the testing I would imagine the suing party? Again any legal eagles out there that would know the answer to that? It's just all food for thought for anyone thinking of importing. I'm not a trained safety expert, but, I would highly doubt a correctly fitted and used European seat, that has also passed the Swedish plush test wouldn't beat an Aussie approved seat safety wise!

Addit: I would so LOVE to see that crash test!!!!! I imagine Aussie experts would have swallow their egos and admit we don't have the safest CRS in the world any more

[Astrid]

I completely get what is being said in this thread, but the simple fact it is Illegal, we cannot choose what laws we do or do not follow.