IIHS Names 13 Booster Seats that Do Not Improve Safety Belt Fit for Kids
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute recently conducted an evaluation of car booster safety seats. Out of the 41 boosters studied, 13 of them did such a bad job of improving the way shoulder and lap safety belts fit on children that the IIHS is refusing to recommend these products at all. While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration currently provides information on how easy (or not) a booster seat is to use, the NHTSA does not have any data informing parents on how well a booster seat will fit or properly secure their child.
Booster Seats the IIHS is NOT Recommending Include:
• Cosco/Dorel (Eddie Bauer) Summit
• Cosco Highback Booster
• Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega
• Cosco/Dorel Traveler
• Dorel/Safety 1st (Eddie Bauer) Prospect
• Safety First/Dorel Intera
• Safety Angel Ride Ryte backless
• Graco CarGo Zephyr
• Compass B510 and B505
• Evenflo Big Kid Confidence
• Evenflo Chase Comfort Touch
• Evenflo Generations
The IIHS says that while these booster seats might increase restraint and comfort level for children, they do not necessarily provide optimal protection when used with safety belts. A major problem cited is that use of these boosters often result in the lap belt resting at least partially on the child’s abdomen rather than on bonier areas of the body.
The IIHS says that good boosters should allow lap belts to wrap across a child’s pelvic area, while shoulder belts should be positioned at mid-shoulder and away from the neck. According to University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute Associate Professor Matt Read, any booster that does not allow good shoulder and lap belt fit should be redesigned.
Booster Seats Rated by the IIHS as "Best Bets" Include:
• Britax Monarch
• Britax Parkway
• Graco Turbobooster backless with clip
• Recargo Young Style
• Fisher-Price Safe Voyage backless with clip
• Fisher-Price Safe Voyage
• Volvo booster cushion
• Combi Kobuk backless with clip
• Safeguard Go backless with clip
• LaRoche Bros. Teddy Bear
IIHS "Good Bets" Include:
• Graco TurboBooster
• Combi Kobuk
• Safety Angel Ride Ryte
• Safety 1st/Dorel Apex 65
• Recaro Young Sport
If your son or daughter was injured because of a defective child auto safety seat, you and your family may be entitled to products liability compensation.
Many booster seats aren't up to the job of improving safety belt fit for children, IIHS.org
Booster Seat Evaluations, IIHS
Related Web Resources
Booster Seats, Keeping Children Safe in Crashes, IIHS
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