September 11, 2005

By: Krista Mallard
Website: http://www.1st-in-babies.com

Child Safety Seats – Reuse After A Minor Crash

Following a review of research on child safety seat performance, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revised its advice to allow reuse of car seats following a minor crash.

NHTSA recognizes that minor crashes are unlikely to affect child seat performance. Current research indicates that child safety seats are very robust and continue to provide high levels of protection even after being involved in a minor crash, said NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D. Our new advice reflects this research.

This policy change was made to ensure that parents continue to correctly restrain their child following a minor crash. It also will reduce the financial burden of replacing child safety seats.

It is also recommended that parents check with the child seat manufacturer in regard to performance, operation and installation of their child restraint.

Car seats can be reused after a minor crash when all of the following apply:

• A visual inspection of the child safety seat, including inspection under any easily movable seat padding, does not reveal any cracks or deformation that might have been caused by the crash;
• The vehicle in which the child safety seat was installed was capable of being driven from the scene of the crash;
• The vehicle door nearest the child safety seat was undamaged;
• There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants; and
• The air bags did not deploy.

Crashes that meet all of these criteria are highly unlikely to affect future child safety seat performance. Parents can be confident that child restraints involved in these minor crashes will continue to provide a high level of protection.

For those situations where any of these criteria has not been met, or if there is uncertainty whether damage to the seat has occurred, NHTSA advises parents to contact their automobile insurance company regarding its policy on seat replacement.

Also see; baby car seats.

About The Author:

Krista Mallard is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-babies.com.  Taking care of your babies needs including safety, toys, health and baby products.