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ToggleAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5 to 29 years. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that in Latin America, a child dies every half hour due to a road accident. In Mexico, according to the Information on Deaths from Traffic Accidents (INEGI, 2020), 783 children under 14 died in road accidents in 2019, equivalent to 2 children every 24 hours.
However, even though the correct use of a Child Restraint System (CRS) or child seat could save children’s lives in the event of a traffic accident, only 16% of children under 12 years in Mexico travel in one, and of those, most are improperly installed according to expert technicians.
When Can Children Use Seat Belts?
According to Mexico’s General Law on Mobility and Road Safety, children must use Child Restraint Systems (CRS) until they are 12 years old or reach a height of 1.45 meters. While most children are not ready to use just the seat belt until they are 12, it’s crucial to consider that in addition to age, the child must have the appropriate height and size, ideally around 1.45 m tall. The child must be able to sit with their back against the seat back, knees bent comfortably over the seat edge, and feet flat on the floor to ensure the proper fit of the seat belt. It is recommended that children under 13 always travel in the vehicle’s rear seat.
Until the child meets the age, size, and proper belt fit requirements, an appropriate safety seat or booster seat for their age and height should be used.
Ensuring the Safety of Children Not Yet Ready for Seat Belts
Child Restraint Systems (CRS), commonly known as infant seats, are devices designed to protect children during car trips. Studies show that the correct use of CRS reduces injuries by 90% to 95% in rear-facing systems and 60% in forward-facing systems. It has also been shown that keeping children rear-facing increases protection three to five times and that children aged 4 to 8 are significantly less likely to be injured when using booster seats compared to adult seat belts.
A study by MAPFRE with the support of the Gonzalo Rodríguez Foundation also indicates that the child’s location in the vehicle is a significant risk factor: Children using CRS are 15% less likely to be injured when seated in the rear of the vehicle than those in the front. Children not using CRS are 25% less likely to be injured when seated in the rear than those in the front.
Origin of CRS
While the origin of these safety devices dates back over 60 years, their use has not become widespread enough, particularly in middle- and low-income countries, to contain fatalities and injuries in children aboard a vehicle. In 1964, Professor Bertil Aldman built the prototype of the first rear-facing car seat for children. It was first tested in a Volvo PV544. Three years later, the Swedish brand Klippan designed and manufactured the first rear-facing child car seat. In 1967, the first dynamically tested child seat model appeared in the United States, installed forward-facing. That same year, Ford introduced its Tot Guard model, which led to today’s shield seats.
In 1975, Thomas Turbell in Sweden initiated the first regulation on child car seats: VVFS 2003:29, later known as the T Standard, focusing on the load on the child’s neck during deceleration. The T Standard was the test that seats had to pass to be marketed in Sweden. Only rear-facing seats passed, and this remains true today. A year later, Volvo introduced the first booster seat for children aged 4 and older. Its use reduced injury risk by up to 75% and provided a safety solution for children transitioning from rear-facing seats to adult seat belts.
Evolution in Design and Materials
CRS have evolved from simple seats without safety measures to sophisticated systems with harnesses, side protection, and impact absorption systems. While retaining the body within the vehicle is a basic step, to minimize injuries caused by retention, it is essential to consider where and how the restraint system should apply the force needed to control the occupant’s movement.
The design of the restraint system should be based on the human body’s response to the action of high-magnitude external forces that appear in moving vehicles. Retaining is one thing, but protecting while retaining is another. This idea, crucial in developing widely implemented restraint systems like the 3-point seat belt, was surprisingly absent in the original development of child restraint systems. Current materials used in CRS include viscoelastic foams, capable of absorbing and distributing impact energy, protecting the child. Viscoelasticity is achieved using materials with a molecular structure that allows them to deform and return to their original shape after an impact. The impact absorption capacity of a CRS is measured by the thickness of the viscoelastic layer, not by the foam filling that makes up the seat padding. The latter only improves comfort, not safety.
Regulations
In 1982, the first global regulation for child car seats (ECE R44) was established in Europe, mandatory for countries adhering to it. Later, ECE R129 or i-Size (Europe) and FMVSS No. 213 (United States) were developed to regulate CRS safety standards. In 1999, the first ISOFIX standard (ISO 13216-1) for Europe and LATCH (United States) was published to facilitate the safe installation of CRS in vehicles. According to the Consumer Power association, Mexico currently lacks a regulation governing the characteristics and certifications of CRS for commercialization. The absence of regulation poses a risk to minors, as non-certified products on sale could endanger children’s lives by failing to meet manufacturing standards. Therefore, the regulatory authority, part of the Ministry of Economy, needs to publish a draft to soon have an Official Mexican Standard (NOM) for CRS as part of the National Mobility and Road Safety Strategy.
Main Difference Between ISOFIX and LATCH
The main difference between the ISOFIX and LATCH systems lies in the design of the lower connectors used to anchor child car seats to the vehicle: ISOFIX uses rigid metal lower connectors that latch directly onto the vehicle anchors. They are generally more intuitive and easier to install, sliding horizontally and pushing inward to lock in place. LATCH uses flexible lower connectors with adjustable straps and hooks that latch onto the vehicle anchors. They require pulling the straps to tighten and adjust the seat until securely fastened.
Regarding safety, both systems are considered equally safe when installed correctly. However, some studies suggest that ISOFIX’s rigid connectors may more effectively limit lateral and forward/backward movements in an accident.
Choosing the Right CRS
The main criteria for selecting a CRS are that it is appropriate for the child’s age, weight, and height and that it complies with current regulations, such as ECE R44/04 or i-Size (R129) in Europe or FMVSS No. 213 in the United States.
Recommendations for Proper Installation and Use of CRS
- The safest place to install the CRS is the vehicle’s rear seat, preferably in the center, as it is further from side impacts.
- Use the appropriate anchoring system, whether ISOFIX or the vehicle’s seat belt. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for correct installation.
- Children should travel rear-facing until at least 15 months old, preferably until 4 years old, as this position offers better protection for the head, neck, and spine.
- Ensure the CRS harnesses are well adjusted and without slack. The harnesses should pass over the child’s shoulders at the correct height.
- The harness buckle should be at the child’s chest, not the abdomen.
- Avoid dressing the child in bulky clothing, such as thick coats, which can interfere with the harness’s proper adjustment.
- As the child grows, update the CRS to one appropriate for their new age, weight, and height. Do not use CRS that have been involved in an accident, as they may have suffered invisible damage.
As an adult, you are responsible for the safety of the children traveling in the car: protect them by using these life-saving devices. Less than 40% of parents know the safest place to install the CRS, so educating yourself and following safety recommendations is essential. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility.