What is side-impact safety?
It is the protection of the child from injury due to violent
movement or contact with the vehicle interior in a side-impact
accident.
Why is side-impact safety important?
While side-impact events make up only 25% of all accidents, they
account for a majority of the most severe injuries that occur.
Why is side-impact safety so
confusing?
Currently, there is no US or European government side-impact
testing requirement.
Any product can make the claim of 'side-impact safety' without
meeting any standard.
Side-Impact Basics
There are 3 basic elements to side-impact safety:
1) Contain a child within the car seat
2) Create side barriers that shield a child
3) Absorb energy to protect a child from side-impact forces
Side-Impact Design:
Side-impact protection requires the same features for any seat:
'Closed' sides perpendicular to seatback
to effectively contain a child
Reinforced sides strength to withstand lateral forces and contain
a child
Deep sides shield a child's torso and head from contact
Padded sides energy-absorbing material to protect against impact
forces
Seeing is Believing
The bottom line is performance. Side-impact crash test video is
the best way to see it.
Click below to see the "crash test video".
Sunshine Kids
Radian XT Car Seat Side-Impact Crash Test
Sunshine Kids
Monterey Booster Seat Side-Impact Crash Test
