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The issue strikes a very personal chord with Sgt Young, whose three-year-old nephew died after a car accident in 2003 separated his brain stem from his brain.

The child had been put in the front seat of a vehicle, which hit a power pole at 60km/h, with the seat belt under his arms.

Sgt Young said, during his more than 15-year career, he had seen some shocking instances of children not being properly restrained, including seatbelts around children’s necks.

“It makes my blood boil,” he said. “Little kids’ lives are precious.”

From March 1, children up to the age of seven will be required to travel in approved seats or wear restraints.

NSW Premier Nathan Rees said there were around 10 deaths and 480 injuries of young children in cars around the State each year.

“Currently it is only compulsory for children up to the age of one to travel in approved baby capsules or seats which contain their own restraints,” he said.

With the new laws coming into force in just three months, Eurobodalla Council is calling on automotive businesses in the shire to become authorised fitters.

Council’s road safety officer, Karen Sydenham, says there is currently only one Roads and Traffic Authority authorised child restraint fitter in the shire.

Authorised fitter and manager of Rick Meyer Auto Sales in Moruya, John Meyer said he’d seen some child restraints poorly fitted by parents using things like wire coat hangers, rope and string to keep child restraints in place.

“We are probably installing on average three or four a week,” Mr Meyer said.

The new laws require children up to six months old to be restrained in a rearward facing infant capsule and then in a forward facing child seat until the age of four.

Booster seats will be legally required for four to seven-year-olds.

A child aged four to seven years must be seated in the back, unless other children under the age of seven years occupy all the rear seat positions.

Ms Sydenham says research is showing that some children are being moved too early to bigger seats or a seatbelt designed for adults.

For information about what type of restraint to buy as well as how to use it correctly, please visit www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/dow nloads/safer_child_restraints.pdf or contact Ms Sydenham on 4474 1328.