The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed upgrades to the federal motor vehicle safety standard on child-restraint systems to protect child passengers in side-impact vehicle crashes.
Under the proposal, car seats would be tested using a specially designed sled test that simulates a “T-bone” crash. This first-ever side impact test simulates both the acceleration of the vehicle and the vehicle door crushing toward the car seat in order to provide parents and car-seat manufacturers with new data on how car seats perform in side crashes. According to the proposal, car seats must demonstrate their ability to safely restrain a child, preventing head contact with an intruding vehicle door and reducing force trauma to the child’s head and chest. NHTSA estimates that the proposal would save five lives and prevent 64 injuries every year.
The agency has proposed a 3-year timeframe for manufacturers compliance upon final rule publication. Members of the public have an opportunity to comment on the agency's proposal for 90 days. Visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/ for more information.