Choosing a car seat is a serious business

22 November 2011

The Russian traffic police reporting to the Interior Ministry advise parents to be careful while choosing a child seat.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the use of child restraining appliances inside cars can bring down the mortality among babies by 71%, and by 54% among elder children.

The use of safety seats is mandatory for children under 12 years of age in all countries having high motorization level.

"Car seats are an important element of safety in transporting young passengers; the positive effect of a car seat was proved by numerous studies, which were held both in Russia and abroad - said police colonel Vladimir Shevchenko, the Deputy Head of the regulation and promotion of the road safety GUOBDD, Russian Interior Ministry.

- The basic necessity of fastening a child inside a car in a special child restraint rather than keeping the child on parents' arms is dictated by the fact that under a sharp braking or during collision at a speed of 50 km/h the passenger's weight increases by a factor more than 30.

It is for this reason that transporting babies in arms is considered the most risky: if the child weighs 10 kg, at the moment of impact it will weigh over 300 kilos and holding the child firm to protect from the impact against the front seat is impossible".

Vladimir Shevchenko noted that the car seat reduces the risk of inflicting a fatal injury. Yet, the major provision is it should be properly installed in the car.

"When you are choosing a car seat you have to consider the weight, height and the age of your child in the first place. These are the criteria against which the item is broken down into categories by manufacturers, - said the traffic police representative.

- There are car seats that combine several functions, but their protection level is less reliable than a seat that is ideally matching the weight, height and age of a child.

Choosing a car seat you have to look into the results of crash tests, to double check whether the labels are available to confirm the compliance with the European safety standards - ECE R44/03 or ECE R44/04. In addition, the seats should be certified in Russia on obligatory basis".

Vladimir Shevchenko advised parents to go to the shop with children ensuring that the child feels comfortable sitting in the seat in the shop and confirm that the seat suits well.

According to Vladimir Shevchenko in all groups of car seats a three-point safety belt is used.

Seats belonging to groups 0, 0 + and 1 are fastened to the car seat using belt and children sitting inside the seats are fastened using internal straps.

Car seats in Groups 2 and 3 do not have internal belts and children are fastened in them using regular car safety belts.

The alternative way to install ISOFIX car seat deals with a seat firmly attached to the car body providing better protection to the child.

Studies confirmed that the safest place to install child seat in the car is the middle of the back seat, the front passenger seat is the least safe; the child seat should be installed at the front passenger seat in exceptional case with obligatory deactivation of the airbag.

"Preparing to the ride let the child seated in the car seat, fasten the child using inner seat belts or using three-point seat belts, depending on the group the seat belongs to.

Be sure to check the belt tension – there should be no slack, - said the representative of the Russian Interior Ministry traffic police.

- During the trip give the child only soft toys to play, all hard things should be fastened".

"Proper selection of a car seat meeting the height and age requirements is the prerequisite that it will really mitigate the risk should an accident or sudden braking happen, - underscored Natalia Agre, the President of the NGO "Risk Free Road Traffic".

- It is also very important to install properly a car seat in the car and reliably fasten the child inside the car seat checking the tension of the safety belts.

Read carefully operations manuals for car seats or ask sale consultants to clarify or explain how everything is working".

Currently in Russia there is a wide-scale social campaign going under the title "Car Seat to Every Child".

The action was initiated by the Russian Interior Ministry Traffic Police with support of the Russian Union of Car Insurers (RUCI) and NGO "Risk Free Road Traffic».

The campaign involves various actions to be held in regions; these actions are aimed at drawing attention of adults to ensuring safety of children involved in traffic, The quests "Cresland Treasures" are staged for young participants of the road traffic and their parents.

Child seat categories:

• 0+ - from newborn to 1 year old (between 0 and 13 kg);

• 1 - from 9 months old to 4 year old (between 9 and 18 kg);

• 2 - between 3 and 7 year old (between 15 and 25 kg);

• 3 - between 6 and 12 year old (from 22 to 36 kg).

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