Researchers at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center found that rear-facing car seats were effective when used correctly because they absorbed crash forces while controlling the child’s motion. According to a CBS News report, researchers say that in a car accident, the crash forces will be transferred from the shell of the car seat into the vehicle seat and into the vehicle, which keeps crash energy from the occupant, in this case, a child. We performed the test on multiple rear-facing seats using crash test dummies.
Car Seats Save Lives
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents keep their toddlers in rear-facing seats until they are 2 or until they reach the maximum height or weight the manufacturer allows. Researchers who conducted this study found that the rear-facing seat really supports the head, neck, and spine. These areas of the body are quite vulnerable in newborns and infants whose spine and vertebrae have not fused and fully developed. The results of this study were published in the journal SAE International.
The CBS article cites as an example the case of Heather Hope, who, in 2016, was driving with her 16-month-old daughter when another vehicle struck and flipped her car. Despite Hope’s death, her daughter, secure in a rear-facing car seat, managed to survive with minor injuries. Hope had carefully picked out a safe car seat for her daughter and family members. That, they said, might have saved the young girl’s life.
Children and Car Accidents
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 663 children ages 12 and younger died as occupants in auto accidents during 2015, and more than 121, 350 were injured in 2014. One CDC study found that, in one year, more than 618,000 children ages 0112 rode in vehicles without using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seatbelt at least some of the time. In 2015, 35 percent of the children ages 12 and under who died in a crash were not wearing seatbelts. Additionally, improper installation of car seats frequently results in tragic deaths and catastrophic injuries for children.
If you have a child, make sure they’re buckled in for every car ride, even if it’s just to the store. When buying a car seat, avoid used ones and check for recalls. If your child has been injured due to a defective car seat, contact an experienced product defect lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-tests-safety-of-rear-facing-car-seats/
