HS307 Travel by motor vehicle

Licensing criterion and guidance for HS307 Travel by motor vehicle.

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Criterion HS307

If children travel in a motor vehicle while in the care of the service:

  • each child is restrained as required by the Land Transport legislation;

  • required adult:child ratios are maintained; and

  • the written permission of a parent of the child is obtained before the travel begins (when children are not travelling with their parent).

Documentation required

Evidence of parental permission for any travel by motor vehicle as part of the ECE programme.

Guidance

How to show you are complying

Before travelling with children while they are in the care of the service, you must check that:

  • every child is properly restrained,

  • parents have provided written permission for children to travel in a motor vehicle.

There are different requirements for taxis, shuttles and buses.

In most circumstances, you do not have to use child restraints if you travel in taxis, shuttles, and buses. The exception is if a taxi company provides appropriate child restraints.    

If you are travelling by bus, and seatbelts are not provided, children must remain seated and be supervised throughout the journey.

When assessing whether you comply with HS307

Questions we are likely to ask

Do you transport children while in the care of the service?

We are likely to request

Evidence of parental permission for any travel by motor vehicle.

The tools below are here to support you, but you do not have to use them. You can use other tools or methods that work better for your service.

Before starting the journey, you might find it useful to check the following.

Travel by motor vehicle checklist - hospital-based

More information is available on the NZ Transport Agency website.

Child restraints factsheet – NZ Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi

Seatbelts and child restraints | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

Making sure children are safely restrained while travelling is essential to keep them safe and protected from serious injury in the event of an accident.

Doing more than the minimum helps make things better for children and easier for staff. Below are some ideas you can consider.

If using private motor vehicles, the service should check that the driver holds a current full New Zealand drivers’ licence, and the vehicle is registered and has a valid Warrant of Fitness.

Even though it’s not a requirement, you could have a policy or procedure in place to guide you on how to keep children safe while travelling.

This could focus on health and safety, such as:

  • supervision arrangements

  • alternative arrangements if parents are not at home when children are to be dropped off if the service is providing

  • sign-in procedures

  • parental permission upon enrolment

  • how you will make sure no child is left behind.