New Study Reminds Us Just How Important Car Seat Safety Is

With all the recent advancements made in the field of car seat safety, one would think children are more protected than ever when traveling in a vehicle, and for the most part, they are, as long as their seats are installed correctly. However, a recent study released by Safe Kids Worldwide (SKW) estimated that up to 64 percent of children are riding in forward-facing seats that have not been installed correctly.

The study, which was conducted in 2016, showed the majority of seats examined had been placed without the use of a tether. A seat’s tether is the long strap attached in the back that can be fastened to anchors in the car specifically dedicated to that task. According to SKW, all vehicles manufactured after 2001 are required to have at least three tether anchors.

“Our research shows many parents don’t know about the tether and don’t realize that their child is not fully protected,” said Lorrie Walker, Child Passenger Safety Expert for Safe Kids Worldwide. “We want to fix that.”

Photo Courtesy of Safe Kids Worldwide

While the idea of a tether may seem silly to some, it plays a vital role in keeping a child passenger safe in the event of an accident. Without it, the seat could potentially pitch forward up to six inches – an event that could result in potentially life-threatening injuries.

The study’s release coincides with National Child Passenger Safety Week, an event running from September 17-23. Of course, the first step in keeping your child safe is being aware of professional guidelines regarding car seat safety.

The website healthychildren.org provides information from pediatricians within the American Academy of Pediatrics. According to the site, all infants and toddlers under two years of age should remain rear-facing. In fact, it is encouraged for children to remain in the rear-facing position until they meet the height and weight requirements of their car seats.

As children age, the guidelines for moving to the next seating position remain the same. A child meeting all the criteria can graduate from rear-facing to forward-facing in a five-point harness, (it is at this point that the tether comes into play). After height and weight requirements are reached, the child can be moved into a booster seat. The site makes it a point to mention that this step is typically reached anywhere between eight to 12 years old and once the child has reached 4-feet-9-inches in height.

In the final stage, children can finally use a lap and shoulder belt without the aid of safety accommodations. However, all children less than 13 years old should continue to ride in the back seat.

September 23, the final day of Child Passenger Safety Week, is also National Seat Check Saturday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration can provide car seat inspections free of charge. To find a location near you, including here in the Texas Hill Country, click here.

Although the numbers found during Safe Kids Worldwide’s study can be scary, the organization said that with education, they found correct tether use increased by 37 percent. If you are interested in learning more about the study by SKW, it can be found by following this link.