Child seats fail tests

JUST three child restraints out of 17 have managed to pass the latest RACV child restraint testing program.

The Safe-N-Sound baby safety capsule, Safe-N-Sound Series 3 and HiPod Barcelona – all from the same manufacturer - outperformed other models in front and side crash tests in the RACV’s child restrain evaluation program (CREP) tests.

The tests also looked at ease-of-use.

The restraints were divided into three categories infant restraints for babies, child seats for young children and booster seats.

Some models tested were convertibles that can be used initially as an infant restraint, then later as a child seat.

The top-performing restraints were dedicated designs.

The RACV’s chief engineer, vehicles, Michael Case, acknowledged that past CREP tests had been too infrequent.

The last CREP test was conducted in 2000 by the RACV, RTA and NRMA.

He said the future aim was to update testing, and the data, at least every two years.

"It’s really overdue in a sense that a lot of what has been published about the safest restraints is now no longer relevant," Mr Case said.

"We need to have current performance data out all the time." Although all of the restraints tested were certified to a stringent Australian Standard (AS 1754/04), some performed better than others in the crash tests, or in ease of use, or in both.

"The CREP program tests child restraints to tougher standards and performance requirements than the Australian Standard," Mr Case said.

Each restraint was tested and given a rating that consumers can use to help them choose the safest child restraint in line with their needs and priorities.

The Series 3, Baby Safety Capsule and Barcelona scored higher results than the more popular convertible restraints in ease of use and child safety rating.

Prices for the best restraints start around $250.

"One thing all three top performing restraints have in common is that they are dedicated designs and do not have to perform two functions," he said.

"We also found some notable differences between the top performers and lower-rating restraints.

"For example, the Safe-N-Sound Maxi-Rider, Babylove Bathurst and Safe-N-Sound Meridian were more difficult to use." Mr Case said ease-of-use was important as a previous RACV study had revealed about 70 per cent of child restraints were not fitted correctly.

Up to 25 per cent of all restraints fitted by non-professionals had major faults that in the event of a crash, could kill, or severely injure a child.

"That is a real worry as a poorly fitted restraint puts a child at more risk during an impact and could even break loose during heavy braking," he said.

"Some people can find child restraints difficult to install correctly and the instructions and labels on the packaging confusing." CREP involves two different series of tests ease-of-use and crash tests measuring safety performance.

To simulate what could happen in various types of car crashes, a crash sled was used. The sled subjected test dummies secured in restraints to forward impact tests and two different side impact tests, a 66-degree test and a 90-degree test.

The ease-of-use tests reviewed diverse criteria to assess how easily the child restraints could be installed and how easily children could be secured.

Ease-of-use test categories included: securing the restraint in vehicle standard of information in instructions clarity and quality of labelling and packaging and securing the child in the restraint.

CREP was established in 1992 by the RTA and NRMA, with RACV joining in 1996.