Insurance Institute Says 13 Boosters May Not Be Safe
Insurance industry and transportation researchers have named thirteen booster seats that don’t put children in the best position to be protected in a crash. The makers of these seats say that their products meet or exceed federal regulations, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. So do you go by the federal regulations or do you heed the warnings of the insurance industry?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which conducts crash tests of new vehicles, and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute did not recommend the following seats: Compass B505, Compass B510, Cosco/Dorel Traveler, Evenflo Big Kid Confidence, Safety Angel Ride Ryte, Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega, Cosco/Dorel (Eddie Bauer) Summit, Cosco Highback Booster, Dorel/Safety 1st (Eddie Bauer) Prospect, Evenflo Chase Comfort Touch, Evenflo Generations, Graco CarGo Zephyr, and Safety 1st/Dorel Intera.
The group did not review crash protection, because the seats merely elevate children so that lap and shoulder belts are positioned properly. Seat belts should belt should fit snug across a child’s lower hips and mid-shoulders instead of the abdomen.
“The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia said that parents should not interpret the evaluations to mean that poorly rated seats are ineffective. “The biggest disservice this would do is to encourage people to move out of booster seats, because we know they’re an effective restraint, we know they reduce the risk of injury and the risk of fatality,” said Dr. Kristy Arbogast, who researches child passenger safety issues at the hospital. She suggested that parents buying booster seats try them out to see how seat belts fits on their child, the AP reported.”
Do you have one of these booster seats and if you do will you keep using your booster seats?
booster seats, toddlers, safe booster seats, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, parenting, safety, safe car seats, safe booster seats
Leave a Reply