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Car Seats Are Safe and Effective When Correctly Used |
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Written by Web Master
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Friday, 20 July 2007 |
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Safe Kids Worldwide wants to reassure parents and caregivers that car seats are safe and effective when used according to manufacturers’ instructions. Every car seat on the market in the United States has passed the same rigorous crash tests required by the U.S. Department of Transportation — tests that reflect conditions that are more severe than 97 percent of real-life crashes. Parents should not fear for their children’s safety in cars in response to a recent Consumers Union report raising questions about the performance of infant car seats. If your infant car seat is less than six years old, has never been in a crash, is reclining at about a 45-degree angle in the car, is secured tightly in the back seat and if the harness straps are adjusted correctly for your baby, then you’re giving your baby the safest ride possible with current technology. Car seat manufacturers are required to test their products against federal standards using standardized procedures. Most manufacturers say they voluntarily test to higher standards. The federal standards do not call for side-impact crash tests at this time. Car seat manufacturers are working with the International Standards Organization to develop global standards that will include side-impact tests. The highest standard in the world today is in Australia, where car seats have to pass a side-impact crash test at 19 miles per hour. Consumers Union tested car seats at 38 miles per hour. We want to see the technology continue to improve, but we don’t want parents to lose confidence in their car seats today — the best protection available. Any car seat made after 2002 can be installed either with safety belts or the LATCH system, if the vehicle is equipped with lower anchors for a car seat. Use safety belts or LATCH for an infant, whichever you prefer, but not both. If you’re worried about LATCH, use the safety belt. Above all, take the time to read the instructions for your car seat cover to cover — and the owner’s manual for your car. Parents who need help installing or adjusting a car seat can get free hands-on training from a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technician through the state or local Safe Kids coalition — visit our home page and click on “Find Coalitions and Events Near You.” And visit the Safe Kids Buckle Up page for more information about child passenger safety.
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Safety Education 