An unreliable child car seat is unquestionably a poor choice. It gives the user a false sense of security and worse, in the event of a collision, fails to deliver effective crash protection to the child passenger.
The Consumer Council has produced and released today (September 15) its latest test report on child car seats in safety performance, ease of use, and the presence of hazardous substances.
As revealed in the test a few models of child car seats were less than completely satisfactory in safety.
The test was conducted in collaboration with ICRT (International Consumer Research and Testing) comparing and rating 11 models of child car seats available in the market here. The samples covered different weight groups from newborn to 36 kg.
In the test, each sample installed with a child dummy on a real car chassis was subjected to stringent frontal and side impact tests at travelling speed of 71 km/hr and 28 km/hr respectively.
The child car seats were rated on a 5-point scale, with results varying from a high score of 5 points or 4.5 points (in many cases) to a mere 1.5 points (1 sample on frontal impact) and 2.5 points (2 samples on side impact).
Results of the frontal impact tests indicated that most samples (8) performed well when installed in rearward-facing position, all scoring the top 5-point rating.
One sample, however, when using the ISOFIX (International Organization for Standardization Fix) installation method with top tether scored a low 1.5 points; during one of the frontal impact tests, the sample partly broke at its seat shell.
Although the sensor reading on the dummy showed the risk of injury is relatively low, it was deemed that in a real-life situation, if the impact speed is higher than that in the test, it may well result in a more severe damage of the child car seat concerned, seriously affecting the protection to the child passenger.
In the side impact tests, the performance of 5 samples installed rearward-facing or forward-facing scored a high rating of 5 points or 4.5 points. 2 samples, however, were less satisfactory with only 2.5 points.
Notwithstanding the variations in their performance, parents and motorists are strongly reminded that using appropriate child car seats is the safest way for young children to travel in car.
Car seatbelts designed as they are for adults and not children are no safe substitute; in a severe car crash, the child may even be injured by the seatbelt worn.
As part of the safety evaluation, the samples were also assessed for their safety design such as the belt design, and adjustment for children of different sizes.
One sample (designed for children from newborn up to 18 kg) was found to have good safety design when used for larger children. But when used for a newborn baby, the belt cannot be adjusted tightly to properly fit the baby's body, thus the relatively low score of the sample.
Besides crash protection, the test evaluated the samples' ease of use. Importantly, for instance, inaccurate installation of a child car seat to the vehicle rendering it ineffectual, is perilous to the child's safety in a car accident. On the whole, the samples fared well, all scoring between 4.5 points and 4 points.
Furthermore, the test detected the presence of traces of a number of hazardous substances in some samples that are potentially harmful to the health of a child or environment: formaldehyde, flame retardants, and PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons). Of particular concern is the presence of PAHs in one sample because of its potential carcinogenic hazard.
Parents are therefore advised to ensure their children do not put safety belt paddings or other parts of the child car seats into the mouth. Further, washing the car seats properly before use, and avoiding direct skin contact of children could significantly reduce such possible health risk.
The Consumer Council welcomes and supports the Government's proposal to raise the mandatory requirement of using child restraint device in private cars.
At present, under the Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) Regulations, child passengers of 2 years old or less when travelling in the front seat of private cars are required to use an approved child car seat, and when travelling in the rear seat of private cars, to use an approved child car seat only when it is available for use in the car.
Some countries like the UK, Germany, Italy, Japan and Singapore, have however more stringent mandatory requirements.
When choosing a child car seat, parents should take note of the following.
- Body weight and build of the child is the main criterion. Age is usually just an indication.
- Studies show that rearward-facing child car seats provide better protection for children than forward-facing child car seats, but they should not be installed in a front passenger seat with airbag.
- Take the time and effort to fully familiarise with the instructions for the installation and use of the child car seat. Inaccurate installation is dangerous and should be avoided at all times.
The Consumer Council reserves all its right (including copyright) in respect of CHOICE magazine and Online CHOICE (https://echoice.consumer.org.hk/).
- 2014.09.15