If you were in an accident, how confident would you feel about your child’s car seat?
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The most recent report from the NRMA and its partner organisations, including Kidsafe NSW, revealed some surprises.
The latest round of Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP) results showed that, of the nine tested, not one scored five stars, and one seat scored less than two stars for protection.
Booster seats did better than infant capsules, with four scoring more than four stars for protection.
All restraints tested comply with the Australian Standard, however there is a vast difference in the quality of protection they offer.
NRMA’s Road Safety Expert, Dimitra Vlahomitros, said choosing the correct child seat was a crucially important decision to make.
“A car seat is one of the first and last pieces of baby equipment a parent will purchase that will be used every day for several years, and can be one of the most important,” Ms Vlahomitros said.
The top scoring booster seat in the most recent testing retails for $99 (Mother’s Choice Trinity). Many other boosters previously tested with lower safety ratings can retail for upwards of $500.
Ms Vlahomitros said parents needed to do some research if they wanted to find the safest and most affordable restraints, not rely on product marketing.
“You can actually score a bargain and score a safe seat by looking around,” Ms Vlahomitros said.
“Safety doesn’t come at a price and these results show us that the most expensive seat isn’t often the safest.”
While product choice remained important, so too did ensuring a child was using the correct seat for as long as possible and until they can’t fit properly into an adult seat belt.
NRMA’s tips for purchasing a car seat:
- Go to www.childcarseats.com.au to find out the crash rating and compare child restraints.
- Shop around to find the right price
- Ensure your seat is professionally installed, and ask the installer to show you how to do it yourself in case it needs to be moved from car to car
- Be wary of purchasing a second hand seat: make sure you know its full history; check the manufacturer’s sticker to make sure it is less than 10 years old; don’t use if straps or harness are frayed; and check for any obvious signs of wear or tear
- Familiarise yourself with the national Child Restraint Laws: https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/children/childcarseats/
