Child Safety Seats Might See New Regulations for Side Impacts

Federal regulators with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated on Wednesday, January 22nd, that they would begin testing on child safety seats. The child safety seat testing could issue new regulations for the equipment to help lessen the risk of injuries or death in a side impact or “T Bone” crash.

The NHTSA has long tested head-on or rear collisions on vehicles and car safety equipment like child safety seats, but now they will create a simulation of a side crash in order to better test child safety seats.

The agency believes that the new regulations and testing will help prevent about five deaths and 64 serious injuries to children in side crashes every year.

Research suggests that most side crashes involve the vehicle carrying the child stopping at a light or stop sign at an intersection, then being hit from the side by another vehicle as the car attempts to move forward.

‘‘As a father of two, I know the peace of mind this proposed test will give parents,’’ Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement. The test ‘‘will give parents and car seat makers important new data on how car seats perform in side crashes.’’

‘‘I think this is terrific,’’ said Joan Claybrook, who was the NHTSA administrator during the Carter administration and later president of Public Citizen. ‘‘We have an absolute moral obligation to protect children as well.”

Claybrook added that today’s passenger vehicles have eight air bags, in part to protect adults from side-impact crashes; however, airbags are not designed for passengers under 40 lbs, such as young children.

Once the side impact testing is completed, the agency will issue new regulations for child safety seat manufacturers. Manufacturers will have 3 years to develop child safety seats that meet the new guidelines.

Child Safety Seats Have History of Problems

A 2004 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found three out of four child seats and booster seats had a “critical misuse” issue that could increase the risk of injury to the child in the event of an accident.

During the study, cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks were tested to determine whether child-seat anchors were in fact visible, easily accessible, and usable without excessive force. Excessive force was defined as the amount of force used to secure the seat. If 40 pounds of force was required for proper installation, the vehicle didn’t pass.

The study also found that belt buckles and other seat hardware could get in the way of the child seat connectors, and that the anchors could become buried in the seat and therefore be out of reach. Researchers futher found that parents fail to use the upper tether that is designed to secure the top part of the car seat in the event of a crash. The straps prevent front-facing child seats from moving forward too much in a crash, which can cause the child to suffer head and neck injuries.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help With Defective Product Cases, Such As Inadequate Child Safety Seats

If you or someone you know has been injured by defective or dangerous product , such as an inadequate child safety seat, and feel that you may be owed financial compensation, we urge you to contact one of our lawyers as soon as possible. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case.  803.252.4800.