Victoria is crash testing vehicle restraints made for children with disabilities and medical conditions.
In a world-first program launched on Monday, nine specialised child restraints imported and sold in Australia will soon undergo frontal and side impact testing at a facility in Sunshine West.
Research from Mobility and Accessibility for Children in Australia has found half of parents with such children report they have broken free of their restraint or seatbelt, while 10 per cent have escaped the car and gone onto the road.
Findings from the Australian Safety Assessment Program initiative, partly funded by Victoria's Transport Accident Commission, will form the basis of advice and information provided to parents by allied health professionals on the use of each restraint.
"Child passengers put their lives in our hands every time we get behind the wheel, and it's critical that we continue to invest in projects like this for their safety, especially when the unexpected happens on the road," TAC chief executive Joe Calafiore said in a statement.
