Protecting Children in the Event of a Car Accident
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The Secretary for the United States Department of Transportation, Ray Lahood announced plans to urge automakers to test its child safety seats and make recommendations which seat restraints are the most effective at protecting children for each of its vehicles. Chicago Tribune reporter, Patricia Callahan noted:
LaHood said he would push for a voluntary system. The secretary said he also ordered NHTSA to institute stringent safety standards for child seats in side-impact crashes, which account for one third of infant highway deaths. For years, regulators have studied side-impact tests for child seats but have not yet required any.
What I'd like to talk to the car manufacturers about is the idea that they get some seats, they put them in their car, they crash test them so they can tell people, 'This is the best seat for this model car,' " LaHood said. "That is the safest thing to do."
While the automobile industry may be slow to adopt changes in its seat belts, especially in today’s economy, most people are aware that using seat belts and car seats can help secure a small child in the event of an accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides a 4 step process for ensuring that children remain in the safest position in a vehicle.
The NHTSA provides that:
1) Children should be kept in the back seat facing the rear of the vehicle until they reach one year and the child is at least 20 pounds.
2) Once the child has outgrown the previous position, they must continue to be seated in the back seat but will now be facing forward until they reach the age of four and are approximately 40 pounds.
3) Once a child reaches the weight limit of 40 pounds they should be placed in a booster seat that is high enough to ensure the seat belt fits the child properly.
4) Usually around the age of eight, and when the child is 4’9” tall they may be able to sit in the back seat without the aid of a booster seat so long as the seat belt fits.
While it’s great to hear that some car manufacturers may conduct testing to improve the safety and quality of its vehicles, consumers must also take steps to protect themselves in the event of a car accident.
Other helpful links from NHTSA include “A Parent’s Guide to Buying and Using a Booster Seat” and “Child Seat Recalls”