Auto safety
Jun 23, 2020
When a baby is born, an unparalleled protective feeling is born. The duty to care for and protect a life that depends on us.
Among the numerous decisions parents have to make before their baby is born, the choice of car seat stands out. This decision must be made as consciously and informedly as possible, as we are talking about the safety of a baby during the most fragile phase of their life. Since traffic accidents are the most common cause of infant mortality among children aged 0 to 14, this issue cannot be underestimated by parents in any way.
We must begin by distinguishing between the two standards currently in force: a child seat can currently be approved according to the R44/04 standard of 1982 or according to the new R129 standard of 2013. These two standards will coexist for many years, but there are differences between them that should be taken into account when making a choice.
Under the R44 standard, car seats are approved based on the child's weight , and most are installed using the car's seat belts without any additional restraint system. While some use Isofix, this is not the general rule. The seats are not suitable for all cars, hence the distinction between universal, semi-universal, and specific car seats. Seats approved under this standard allow children to travel forward-facing from 9 kg, approximately 9 months, which is considered quite early nowadays.
The i-Size standard is the most recent certification and aims to guarantee maximum safety during travel. The six areas in which this measure will bring about important changes are as follows:
• All children up to 15 months old must be transported rear-facing . Data based on tests and accidents show that children traveling in rear-facing seats are 5 times safer.
• Mandatory side impact tests (25% of accidents are side collisions);
• Using height instead of weight helps select the ideal chair for the baby;
• The ISOfix installation system for child seats is preferred to facilitate placement and prevent errors in restraint;
• Use of innovative crash test dummies , which accurately represent the effects of an accident on a real child's body;
• Better compatibility : all cars with i-size seats allow the use of any car seat that is approved by the i-size standard.
Why travel Rear Facing?
Children are especially vulnerable in car accidents because their heads are disproportionately heavy compared to the rest of their bodies, and their neck muscles are not yet fully developed. In a frontal collision with the child facing forward, the head is projected with tremendous and highly dangerous force. If the child travels in a forward-facing seat, the force and strain exerted on the neck are therefore 5 times less. Furthermore, in a forward-facing seat, the child risks colliding with the front seat, whereas in a forward-facing seat, the seat itself acts as a protective shell that absorbs the impact and reduces potential injuries.
Although the i-Size standard mandates the use of rear-facing car seats until 15 months of age, the recommendation is to keep children in this position for as long as possible. There are already car seats developed with this objective in mind, extending the rear-facing position up to 1.05 meters or up to 25 kg, giving children room for leg growth and allowing for comfortable travel. BeSafe is a pioneer in this area, offering the most space and comfort for a child traveling rear-facing. They designed their first rear-facing car seat about 30 years ago. This is a renowned brand in car safety, originating from Scandinavia (Norway). They are a specialist brand, dedicated solely to the development of car seats. Their mission is to prevent injuries to children in motor accidents. To achieve this, their products meet demanding safety requirements, are easy to use, and offer great comfort. This brand has a long history of awards in crash tests and other safety tests.
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