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Feds Revise Child Safety Seat Ratings

New guideliness measure ease of use, installation procedures

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

January 31, 2008

“A new five-star government rating system will grade child safety seats on how easy they are to properly install and will help guide parents in choosing the right car seat to keep their children safe,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters said.

NHTSA data indicates that seven out of 10 child safety seats are either the wrong size for the child or are seriously misused, reducing their effectiveness in a crash, according to the agency reported.

NHTSA estimates properly-used child restraint systems will reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars. The reduction declines in light trucks to 58 percent for infants and 59 percent for toddlers.

The new rating system is designed help consumers assess the safety seats on the ease with which they can be used by parents.

“Even the safest car seat can't protect a child if it isn't installed correctly,” Secretary Peters said. “These new star ratings arm parents with the best information and challenge manufacturers to make car seats that are easier for parents to use.”

The five-star rating system will award an overall star rating as well as individual star ratings in four categories: securing the child, vehicle installation features, labeling and instructions. Five stars represent the highest rating and one star signifies the lowest rating.

“These changes will make it easier for consumers to compare products and determine which child safety seat is easiest for their daily routines,” said NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason.

Transportation officials said the new ratings system does not indicate how effective a seat is in protecting a child in a crash but compares the ease of use. The new system replaces an older ratings program which used letter grade

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