WASHINGTON — Parents who struggle to install their child safety seats or fasten their toddlers in the back-seat chairs are receiving some new guidance from the government.
The Transportation Department said Wednesday it revamped a consumer ratings system for child safety seats to help parents and caregivers make the best choice for their kids.
The new approach uses a five-star rating system, based on the seats’ ability to secure a child and the ease with which the seats are installed. It also considers the seats’ labeling and instruction manuals.
Many parents can attest to the frequent frustration found in securing a car seat or making sure their child is strapped in. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said seven in 10 child safety seats are either the wrong size or misused, reducing their ability to protect kids in a crash.
When used properly, the seats are very effective. The traffic safety agency estimates that child restraint systems reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars and by nearly 60 percent for infants and toddlers in sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and vans.
Transportation officials noted that the new ratings system does not assess how effective a seat is in protecting a child in a crash. All child seats must comply with federal safety standards to protect children in a car accident.
The government recommends car seats for children up to 40 pounds and booster seats for children over 40 pounds until they are 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall. All children should ride in the back seat until age 13.
Child seat ratings
Child seat ratings can be found on The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Web site: www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
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