which.co.uk is urging consumers not to buy four child car seats that have failed its latest round of safety tests.
The consumer organisation advises parents not to assume that because a child car seat has reached the minimum safety standard and is on sale in the UK, it will protect a child in a crash.
which.co.uk’s car seat tests include a side impact crash. Most cars are safety rated for the protection they give adults in such a crash, but child car seats, inexplicably, are not legally required to undergo a side impact test.
Video footage of the which.co.uk tests can be seen at www.which.co.uk/childseatsvideo and shows the potentially devastating effects of a crash on some child car seats.
The four child car seats deemed ‘Don’t Buys’ by which.co.uk are:
The Little Shield Combi 123 was the worst seat on test. It uses a nylon strap with stud fixing which isn’t strong enough to contain the forces of a severe accident. It’s made from expanded polystyrene and offers no protection from side impacts.
Chicco Max 3-S uses the adult seat belt for a 9kg child (around nine months old) which means that instead of sitting on the shoulder, the adult belt rests on the neck of the child and thus could cause severe injuries.
Mamas & Papas Pro-Tour offers no protection for older children in a side crash, because it recommends removing the backrest for children over 22kg. Therefore there is nothing to stop the child’s head being injured in a side impact.
Recaro Start also uses the adult seat belt for a 9kg child, which means they’re improperly restrained in a crash and the sudden deceleration caused by a serious frontal crash could result in neck or abdomen injuries for such a small child.
The good news is that there are plenty of safe, secure child seats on the market. which.co.uk has awarded twelve Best Buy status.
Malcolm Coles, Editor, which.co.uk, says:
"It’s important to stress that any child seat is better than no seat at all, but some of the seats we’ve tested are shockingly bad. The most shocking thing of all, though, is that they are deemed safe under minimum standards and are being sold to parents who trust these guidelines. The standards simply aren’t tough enough to assure adequate protection in crashes and need to be raised."
