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NHTSA Releases 2006 Child Safety Seat Ratings

June 15, 2006

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The newest child safety seat models are easier to use than their predecessors, according to an annual National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) survey.

NHTSA rated 99 child safety seats for ease of use from 14 different manufacturers for 2006. Of the 99 seats rated, 85 received an overall score of A. In 2005, 74 percent of rated seats received an overall score of A. The agency uses a grading system of A, B, or C to denote how easy it is to use the safety seats. The top grade is A.

In addition to the overall rating, NHTSA also uses the letter grading system to denote how well the child safety seats perform in five individual categories: assembly requirements; clarity of labeling; clarity of written instructions; ease of securing a child and ease of installation in a vehicle. Clearer labels and instructions accounted for most of the improvements in 2006.

"Knowing what rating a child safety or booster seat has is the best way for parents to buy one that is safe, effective and easy to use," said NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason.

NHTSA began its "Ease of Use" ratings for child restraint systems, including booster seats, in 2003.

The 2006 ratings represent approximately 95 percent of safety seats currently available to consumers. As in 2005, there were no safety seats that received an overall "C" rating; however, there were several "C" scores in some individual categories.

Three seats that were rated in previous years improved their overall scores from a “B” to an “A”. These seats were the Triple Play Sit ‘N Stroll (formerly manufactured by Safeline), Evenflo Big Kid (HB), and Evenflo Discovery.

A number of redesigned seats that were re-rated maintained their “A” ratings. In most cases, improvements were seen within categories that they had formerly been assigned “B” or “C” ratings in. These seats were the Cosco Alpha Omega 5pt, Evenflo Big Kid (No Back), Evenflo Embrace, Evenflo Discovery, Graco Comfort Sport, and Safety 1st Surveyor.

The complete list of seats rates is available at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/CSSRating/Index.cfm.

The NHTSA survey also notes that LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), a system that makes child safety seat installation easier is required for most vehicles manufactured after September 1, 2002.

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