This document discusses child safety in cars and child restraint systems (CRS). It covers the design and purpose of different types of CRS, legal requirements for CRS use, and the effectiveness of CRS according to various studies. It also outlines regulations for CRS, including UN Regulation 44 and the new Regulation 129. The document advocates for consumer information programs to raise awareness and create demand for safer cars and proper CRS use.

1. Safety of Children in Cars
Ronald Vroman
International Consumer Research and Testing
Global NCAP World Congress
September 2018, Delhi

2. Car Child Seats or Child Restraint Systems (CRS)
• Designed to guarantee
correct restraint of a child
in a passenger vehicle
– Prevent child hitting car
interior
– Control forces on child
• One of the most
important and effective
passive safety devices in
the vehicle
Source: FIA toolkit for child safety in cars.

3. Body proportions

4. Integral and Non-Integral CRS
Infant carriers
Group 0+ (<13kg)
Toddler seats
Group 1 (9-18kg)
Booster seats
Group 2/3 (15-36kg)
Booster cushion
Group 2/3 (15 22-36kg)

5. Basic Principles
CRS and car manufacturers (OEM’s) share
responsibilities:
– Car manufacturers facilitate CRS interface, and
allow CRS to benefit from built in provisions
– CRS manufacturers develop compatible CRS that
protect children well.

6. Seat belt / Isofix installation

7. Legal Requirements
• Standards of Approval
– Set minimal level of protection
( technical requirements etc)
– Define car-CRS interface
(ideally ‘plug and play’)
• Laws regarding use of CRS
– Mandatory use of CRS for children up to certain weight /
length/age
– Sanctions when violated

8. Global Status Report on Road Safety

9. Global Status Report on Road Safety
• Effectiveness of Child Restraint Systems (CRS)
varies per category:
– RWF infant carrier: 90% reduced risk compared to
unrestrained
– Booster seats 77% reduced risk compared to
unrestrained

10. UN Regulation 44
UN-ECE 1958 agreement:
Regulation 44
Uniform provisions concerning the approval of
restraining devices for child occupants of
power-driven vehicles ("Child Restraint
Systems")
• 43 contracting parties signed up
• A.o. front and rear impact / roll over test
• Definitions of envelopes, belt length, Isofix
connectors

11. Other Type Approval Standards

12. From Reg 44 to Reg 129
UN-R44:
• Developed in the 1980s and since
then many times amended / updated
• Concerns
– Difficult to understand for consumers
– Misuse risks (lower level of
protection):
• Incorrect installation
• Wrong child seat
• Slack in harness
– No encouragement to transport
toddlers (>13kg) rearward facing
– No side impact test procedure

13. Regulation 129 (i-Size)
(Enhanced Child Restraint Systems)
• Replaces UN-R44:
• Main characteristics:
– Introduction side impact test
– RWF transport mandatory until
15 months
– Reduced misuse
– Stature based classification
– Q-dummies
– Improved car compatibility
13

14. Regulation 129 (i-Size):
Enhanced Child Restraint Systems
(ECRS)
Regulation 44:
Child Restraint Systems (CRS)
• June 2013:
Phase 1
Isofix baby / toddler ECRS <105cm
• June 2017:
Phase 2 non-integral ECRS
booster with backrest , >100cm
<135cm minimally, Isofix optional
• June 2018
Phase 3 adopted:
belted universal baby / toddler seats
entry into force foreseen 29 Dec 2018
• September 2017:
Isofix withdrawn
– no new approvals from 1 Sept 2017
– no extensions from 1 Sept 2020
• September 2019:
non-integral withdrawn
– no new approvals from 1 Sept 2019
– no extensions from 1 Sept 2023
• September 20201):
Integral harness withdrawn
– no new approvals from 1 Sept 2020
– no extensions from 1 Sept 2022
• February 2017:
Booster cushions
only group 3
(for children >125cm and 22kg)
1) ANEC proposal
Time path R44 -> 129

15. Toolkit for Safety Advocates

16. Toolkit for Safety Advocates

17. Beyond Regulations
Consumer information programs:
• Inform how cars / CRS perform when tested
under more demanding circumstances
• Raise awareness
• Create market demand

18. Safer Cars for India

19. CRS Consumer Information Programs

20. www.pesri.org

21. Dynamic tests in car body, Latin NCAP crash severity
Frontal impact Side impact
PESRI: CRS test for Latin America

22. Challenges
• Low awareness in countries with young (or no)
history of mandatory CRS use
• Availability of affordable products
• Weak market surveillance

24. Frontal Impact: Kiddo Traveller (2017)

25. Touring 3030 Touring 3042
Evolution
Frontal Impact: Borigotto

26. 10
1
1
2
3
4
2
4
2
1
12
3
2
3
5
10
3
1
1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
group 0 / 0+
group I
group 0(+)/I
group I/II
group 0+/I/II
group I/II/III
group 0+/I/II/III
1 star 2 stars 3 stars 4 stars 5 stars

27. www.pesri.org

32. Comments, questions or suggestions:
contacto@pesri.org

33. Way Forward
• Apply
– (UN) Regulations
– Usage laws
• Awareness campaigns
• Consumer Information
Programs

34. • ANY CRS is better than none
• Correct use determines level of protection
• Change to bigger CRS as late as possible
(especially from rearward facing to to forward facing)
General advice for parents

35. Thank you