Child car seats, sometimes called child restraint systems, are vitally important devices that prevent children from injury in car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, the failure to properly secure a child is a significant factor in most of the fatalities resulting from motor vehicle accidents. While all states have laws governing the use of child restraint systems, or CR, several federal laws also apply.
Car Seat Safety Standards
While state laws primarily govern the age and circumstances when a child must use a car seat, federal law sets an extensive series of standards that all car seats must meet. Essentially, if a car seat is manufactured or used in the United States, it must meet the federal safety standards or it cannot be sold.
The federal standards for child car seats are set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations, chapter 49, section 571.213. It states, for example, that the car seat must limit the acceleration of any passenger to no more than 60 g. Another requirement is that in rear-facing car seats, the vertical angle of the seat cannot exceed 70 degrees.
Anchoring Standards
The federal standards also make specific requirements for the anchoring devices used in car seats. These standards are set out in 49 Code of Federal Regulations 571.225, and establish a standard that car manufacturers must meet when they add any device in a car designed to hold or anchor a car seat. For example, the regulations require that any car manufactured after September 1, 2002, which has three or more forward facing seats in the rear of the vehicle must provide at least two child anchoring systems in the car, with at least one of them in the second row of seats.
Usability Ratings
While all seats must meet the safety ratings, the NHTSA also evaluates each car seat sold in the country based on its ease of use. These ratings are designed to provide parents with easy-to-understand ratings that assist them in finding car seats that meet their particular needs. Seats are rated with an A, B or C rating, with A being the most easy to use, and C being the least easy. The NHTSA evaluates seats every year; specific information about the results of any seat can be found on their website.
References
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Child Passenger Safety
- carseat.org: 49 Code of Federal Regulations 571.213
- carseat.org: 49 Code of Federal Regulations 571.225
- carseat.org: Safety Rating Program
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: 2006 Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings
