Mon - March 5, 2007
Thu - January 18, 2007
Breaking News: Consumer Reports withdraws controversial car seat report
In
a stunning turnaround, Consumer Reports today withdrew its controversial infant
car seat report in which many seats failed.
Here is the CR statement, as posted on their web site:
Here is the CR statement, as posted on their web site:
CONSUMER
REPORTS WITHDRAWS INFANT
CAR SEAT REPORT
Move is made pending additional testing now
underway
NEW YORK (Jan. 18) -- Consumer Reports is withdrawing its recent report on infant car seats pending further tests of the performance of those seats in side-impact collisions.
A new report will be published with any necessary revisions as soon as possible after the new tests are complete.
We withdrew the report immediately upon discovering a substantive issue that may have affected the original test results. The issue came to light based on new information received Tuesday night and Wednesday morning from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concerning the speed at which our side-impact tests were conducted.
The original study, published in the February issue of Consumer Reports, was aimed at discovering how infant seats performed in tests at speeds that match those used in the government’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). This program tests most new vehicles in crashes at speeds of 35 mph for frontal impact and 38 mph for side impact. Child safety seats, in contrast, are currently tested only in front-impact crashes at speeds of 30 mph.
Our tests were intended to simulate side crashes at the NCAP speed of 38 mph. The new information raises a question about whether the tests accurately simulated that speed, however, so we are now reviewing our tests and the resulting article.
To those who may have seen the report earlier in print, on the Web, or in broadcasts, we urge you to remember that use of any child seat is safer than no child seat, but to suspend judgment on the merits of individual products until the new testing has been completed and the report re-published.
We appreciate that manufacturers and particularly NHTSA are engaging directly with us on this article, and we applaud NHTSA for giving serious consideration to development of side-impact child seat tests. Consumer Reports has long advocated adoption of such tests, since government data shows that side crashes account for a significant number of child fatalities.
We look forward to re-issuing guidance on child-seat safety as soon as possible.
---
Here is the NHTSA's statement on this matter:
NEW YORK (Jan. 18) -- Consumer Reports is withdrawing its recent report on infant car seats pending further tests of the performance of those seats in side-impact collisions.
A new report will be published with any necessary revisions as soon as possible after the new tests are complete.
We withdrew the report immediately upon discovering a substantive issue that may have affected the original test results. The issue came to light based on new information received Tuesday night and Wednesday morning from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concerning the speed at which our side-impact tests were conducted.
The original study, published in the February issue of Consumer Reports, was aimed at discovering how infant seats performed in tests at speeds that match those used in the government’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). This program tests most new vehicles in crashes at speeds of 35 mph for frontal impact and 38 mph for side impact. Child safety seats, in contrast, are currently tested only in front-impact crashes at speeds of 30 mph.
Our tests were intended to simulate side crashes at the NCAP speed of 38 mph. The new information raises a question about whether the tests accurately simulated that speed, however, so we are now reviewing our tests and the resulting article.
To those who may have seen the report earlier in print, on the Web, or in broadcasts, we urge you to remember that use of any child seat is safer than no child seat, but to suspend judgment on the merits of individual products until the new testing has been completed and the report re-published.
We appreciate that manufacturers and particularly NHTSA are engaging directly with us on this article, and we applaud NHTSA for giving serious consideration to development of side-impact child seat tests. Consumer Reports has long advocated adoption of such tests, since government data shows that side crashes account for a significant number of child fatalities.
We look forward to re-issuing guidance on child-seat safety as soon as possible.
---
Here is the NHTSA's statement on this matter:
|
NHTSA
01-07
Thursday, January 18, 2007 |
|
Statement From National Highway
Traffic Safety Administrator Nicole Nason Regarding
Consumer
Reports’ Withdrawal of Its
Infant Car Seat Test Report
“Consumer
Reports was right to withdraw its infant car
seat test report and I appreciate that they have taken this corrective action.
We are always eager to work with Consumer
Reports and other organizations to improve child
safety and ensure that consumers continue to have access to accurate and
credible data. I was troubled by the report because it frightened parents and
could have discouraged them from using car seats. It is absolutely essential for
every parent to understand that the safest place in an automobile for an infant
is in a car seat. Simply put, car seats are the best defense for a child in a
crash.
“Our initial review of the
Consumer
Reports testing procedures showed a significant
error in the manner in which it conducted and reported on its side-impact tests.
The organization’s data show its side-impact tests were actually conducted
under conditions that would represent being struck in excess of 70 mph, twice as
fast as the group claimed. When NHTSA tested the same child seats in conditions
representing the 38.5 mph conditions claimed by
Consumer
Reports, the seats stayed in their bases as they
should, instead of failing dramatically.”
------
For more discussion on this topic, see our car seat message board. And an archive of our comments on this topic is here .
For more discussion on this topic, see our car seat message board. And an archive of our comments on this topic is here .
Posted at 01:47 PM Read More
Fri - January 5, 2007
Consumer Reports drops car seat bombshell: 10 out of 12 seats fail indie tests
Consumer Reports dropped a bombshell on the car
seat market Thursday, previewing a February 2007 article
in which the magazine will reveal that 10 out of 12 infant car seats failed
their independent crash test.
In a nutshell, Consumer Reports decided to make their test tougher than the government's test---and as a result, many seats that PASSED the US government test failed the CR test. Instead of putting seats through a 30 mph test (the federal standard), CR tested to 35mph and then added a new twist: a 35 mph SIDE IMPACT test.
In a nutshell, Consumer Reports decided to make their test tougher than the government's test---and as a result, many seats that PASSED the US government test failed the CR test. Instead of putting seats through a 30 mph test (the federal standard), CR tested to 35mph and then added a new twist: a 35 mph SIDE IMPACT test.
Posted at 10:36 AM Read More
Tue - November 14, 2006
Tue - April 4, 2006
Mon - March 13, 2006
Fri - March 10, 2006
Mon - February 6, 2006
Thu - September 29, 2005
Tue - September 13, 2005
2006 preview: Car Seats--BRITAX
Here's a wrap-up of what is coming out in 2006 for
Britax car seats.
Posted at 05:11 PM Read More
Sat - September 10, 2005
Revenge of Team Tex: De Novo brand rises from Combi partnership ashes
Like a horror flick when the axe-wielding bad guy
comes back from the dead for the 13th time, car seat maker Team Tex is back,
this time with a new brand: De Novo.
Posted at 09:37 PM Read More
Britax bought by . . . Dr. Pepper?
Britax, the maker of the upper-end car seats, has
been bought out by the Carlyle Group, an equity firm that owns Dr. Pepper among
other brands.
Posted at 09:09 PM Read More
Thu - August 25, 2005
FAA refuses to mandate car seats on airlplanes . . . gets flack from the government?
Here's an odd case---one part of the federal
government criticizing other criticizing for lack of
action:
NTSB Advisory
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
August 25, 2005
NTSB ACTING CHAIRMAN EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT AT FAA CHILD SAFETY SEAT ANNOUNCEMENT
NTSB Acting Chairman Mark Rosenker today expressed disappointment at the FAA's refusal to require effective action to ensure that infants and toddlers under age 2 are safely restrained on airliners.
The FAA has announced that it will not require the use of approved child restraints but will allow their use on a strictly voluntary basis.
"While the FAA's new position may provide more options for the voluntary use of safety seats, we continue to believe that infants and young children deserve the same protection that is provided to other aircraft passengers," said Rosenker. "During takeoff, landing, and turbulence, adults are required to be buckled up, baggage and coffee pots are stowed, computers are turned off and put away, yet infants and toddlers need not be restrained. This is an unnecessary risk to our children."
The NTSB recommended in 1995 that infants and small children be restrained on airliners in a manner appropriate to their size. The recommendation has been on the Board's list of "Most Wanted" safety improvements since 1999.
Rosenker noted that the American Academy of Pediatrics has made a similar recommendation.
Information on this and other "Most wanted" items may be found on the Board's web site at www.ntsb.gov.
---
Our thoughts: as you might guess, we think the NTSB is right. Safety seats should be mandatory for infants under age 2 on airplanes. It is sad that the FAA has detailed regulations for carry-on bags and other items that can/can't be carried on planes . . . but child passenger safety is not a priority.
NTSB Advisory
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
August 25, 2005
NTSB ACTING CHAIRMAN EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT AT FAA CHILD SAFETY SEAT ANNOUNCEMENT
NTSB Acting Chairman Mark Rosenker today expressed disappointment at the FAA's refusal to require effective action to ensure that infants and toddlers under age 2 are safely restrained on airliners.
The FAA has announced that it will not require the use of approved child restraints but will allow their use on a strictly voluntary basis.
"While the FAA's new position may provide more options for the voluntary use of safety seats, we continue to believe that infants and young children deserve the same protection that is provided to other aircraft passengers," said Rosenker. "During takeoff, landing, and turbulence, adults are required to be buckled up, baggage and coffee pots are stowed, computers are turned off and put away, yet infants and toddlers need not be restrained. This is an unnecessary risk to our children."
The NTSB recommended in 1995 that infants and small children be restrained on airliners in a manner appropriate to their size. The recommendation has been on the Board's list of "Most Wanted" safety improvements since 1999.
Rosenker noted that the American Academy of Pediatrics has made a similar recommendation.
Information on this and other "Most wanted" items may be found on the Board's web site at www.ntsb.gov.
---
Our thoughts: as you might guess, we think the NTSB is right. Safety seats should be mandatory for infants under age 2 on airplanes. It is sad that the FAA has detailed regulations for carry-on bags and other items that can/can't be carried on planes . . . but child passenger safety is not a priority.
Posted at 04:10 PM Read More
Wed - August 17, 2005
Graco updates Snug Ride
In order meet new federal crash test requirements,
all infant car seats must now be certified for us up to 22 pounds and 29". Graco
has updated their Snug Ride car seat to meet the new standard. A reader asked
what the difference was between the old and new models (since they share the
same name), besides the weight/height certification. Here is the
scoop:
The Snug Ride SEAT itself did change (holds 22 pounds now instead of 20 & now holds 29" instead of 26"). The seat is longer & the handle & canopy had to change to accommodate the new seat length.
The Snug Ride bases are the same---there is no change in the base.
The new standard started on 8/1/05 & applies to any product manufactured after that date. Any seat that is still in store or in inventory at a store can still be sold.
That's the scoop!
The Snug Ride SEAT itself did change (holds 22 pounds now instead of 20 & now holds 29" instead of 26"). The seat is longer & the handle & canopy had to change to accommodate the new seat length.
The Snug Ride bases are the same---there is no change in the base.
The new standard started on 8/1/05 & applies to any product manufactured after that date. Any seat that is still in store or in inventory at a store can still be sold.
That's the scoop!
Posted at 11:23 AM Read More
Wed - July 6, 2005
Sunshine debuts first folding convertible car seat
The first convertible seat that folds will debut in
September from Sunshine Kids, a new player in the car seat biz. It works rear
facing to 33 lbs and forward facing with a five point harness to 65 pounds.
Pricey at $200, but this might appeal to some parents who car pool. The seats
folds down to a mere 6.5” inches in width. It is well designed with
adjustable base for reclining and EPS foam and an amazing five harness slot
positions. FYI: The engineer who is behind the Sunshine seat is the same fellow
who designed on an air-bag compatible infant seat for the company XSCI that
bombed a few years ago.
Posted at 04:32 PM Read More
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Published On: Mar 05, 2007 06:41 PM
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Published On: Mar 05, 2007 06:41 PM