Parents 'should try fitting a car seat before buying it'

Date: 19/11/2010

Parents ought to try fitting a child seat into their current car before buying the item, it has been said.

Which? gave the recommendation after conducting a study to see how well three different seats fitted into 15 vehicles.

The product-testing organisation installed the child restraints into the position recommended by the manufacturer and found the middle seat in the second row of one family hatchback is not suitable for carrying a youngster.

Furthermore, the research revealed it is impossible to install a car seat into the front passenger seat of a top-selling MPV that is promoted to families, because the airbag cannot be disabled.

The analysis was based on factors such as the suitability of the space, the length of seatbelts and whether car seats would compromise other aspects of the vehicle's use.

The TRL Child Safety Centre recommends that parents should always check that child seats fit into their car before purchasing them.

Vehicle seats come in many profiles, as do child seats. The position of adult seatbelts and ISOFix anchorages, used to attach car seats, also differ from vehicle to vehicle.

A child seat should fit tightly into the vehicle seat environment, avoiding gaps around the back and base. A good fitting child seat will allow the restraint system to perform at its best when an accident occurs.

Accident studies show that placing a child in a rear passenger seat is generally preferable to placing them in the front passenger seat.
 

Posted by Sarah Bailey