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Weak Protection in 4 Models of Child Car Seats Room for Improvement in Safety Design

  • 2019.10.15

Over 700 children were injured in traffic accidents when travelling in private cars between 2015 and 2018 in Hong Kong. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), for children aged 4 years or younger, using child car seats properly can cut down the risk of injuries by about 50% in the event of a crash. A Consumer Council test on 18 models of child car seats has shown vast disparities in their safety performance and among the test models, the crash protection of 4 models was found to be relatively weak in the frontal impact test with the worst model scoring a mere 1.5 points whereas the performance of 2 models were dissatisfactory in the side impact test, scoring only 2.5 points. The industry should take note of the test result and improve their products.

The Council has since 2010 repeatedly lobbied the Government to extend the legislation on the use of child car seats by front-seat child passengers of age 2 or below to cover also children in the back seat. The Transport Department has reiterated that the Government is carrying out the preparatory work for formulating a legal framework to raise the mandatory requirement of using child car seats in private cars. However, the legislative amendment process has been slow. The Government is urged to speed up the legislative process to promote the use of child car seats to effectively protect the lives and safety of more children.

The test was conducted in collaboration with the International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT), covering 18 models of child car seats currently available in the market or soon to be rolled out in Hong Kong. The models are suitable for a range of ages from newborn infants up to children of about 12 years old. There is a vast price disparity among the models from $1,900 to $8,800, showing a significant difference of more than 3.5 times. All models claimed to be in compliance with the UN Regulations ECE R44/04 (9 models) or ECE R129 (9 models).

The test focused on the frontal and side crash impact, safety design, ease of use, comfort and hazardous substances. Overall performance ratings showed that the most expensive model (about $8,800) only scored 3 points while the cheapest model (about $1,900) could score 4 points, reflecting that consumers should not use prices to evaluate the product quality.

Stringent crash requirements higher than those of the UN Regulations were applied in the test with the travelling speed increased from 50km/h to 64km/h for a greater crashing impact to ensure the protection provided by the test models. In the frontal impact test, the crash protection of 4 models was relatively weak, scoring only 2.5 points or lower. 1 model could not firmly hold the child dummy on the seat when subjected to the frontal impact test, resulting in the child dummy’s upper body and head to thrust forward to a large extent, thereby increasing the risk of the child’s head bumping into hard object in an accident and the model could only score 1.5 points. In the side impact test, 2 models were also found to provide weak crash protection, scoring only 2.5 points.

The test showed that the child car seat’s built-in airbag can cushion the dummy’s head in a car crash to enhance protection to the child. In the frontal impact test with dummies simulating a child of 1.5 years old and 3 years old, its performance was far more superior than another similar model without airbag tested in 2015, capable of reducing the crash impact on the neck by 50% and 25% respectively. The performance of this model was outstanding, scoring a high 4.5 points.

On safety design, ISOFIX design can fix the car seat effectively and is easy to install, making it more popular in recent years. Among all 18 models, only 4 were not compatible with ISOFIX. The test evaluated the design of the seat belt and the headrest as to whether they could be adjusted to fit the child body shape and securely installed in the car. The performance of 4 models were deemed average, scoring a mere 3.5 points or below. 1 ISOFIX non-compatible model could only be fastened to the vehicle seat with the safety seat belt and it was only rated 3 points due to its lower stability.

In choosing child car seats, apart from focusing on the suitable body weight or height as well as the safety design, care should also be taken to ensure that the product is easy to install. The installation procedures and the risk of misuse in the absence of instructions manual were evaluated as part of the test. 4 models were deemed to be more prone to wrong installation, among which the steps involved in adjusting the height of the shoulder straps were relatively complicated in 1 model and that might increase the risk of wrong installation, hence it could only score 2 points.

Consumers choosing and using child car seats are suggested to heed the following:

- Choose a suitable child car seat in accordance with the child’s body weight or height, as the information on recommended age is for reference only. Try out the various adjustment mechanisms, locks and levers, etc, to ensure its smooth operation;

- Some child car seats are equipped with their own separate base, make sure if it is included in the selling price before purchase;

- Manufacturers have prepared a list of compatible car models for some ISOFIX child car seats, enquire with the retailer or agent to access the information;

- When using ISOFIX system, if it is necessary to install with the top tether, pay attention to its designated anchor point position to avoid locking by mistake into the luggage anchor point inside the car or other areas, which could affect the protective capability of the child car seat;

- Some child car seats designed for newborn infants can be used in conjunction with designated baby strollers for convenience in carrying them around;

- Before using the child car seat for the first time, clean the covers, belts and cushions for hygiene.

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