Citation

Griffiths M, Brown J, Kelly P. Proc. Int. Tech. Conf. Enhanced Safety Vehicles 2009; 2009.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, In public domain, Publisher National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Other studies have identified, and recent studies in Australia and the U.S. have confirmed, that whilst the 1970's concept of boosters to try to improve adult seatbelt geometry for growing children is a good one, many of the currently available boosters do not provide children with optimal restraint. This paper recommends a new category of CRS booster with the intention of providing more effective restraint to children in the 6 to 10 age group. Recommended features include: a mandatory requirement for side wings with performance based requirements; lap belt guides; sash belt guides; top tether strap; anti-submarining features; design such that the base of the booster seat be narrower so that three of these child restraints can fit across the rear seat of a typical mid size car's rear bench seat and allow for arm rests from car doors; and that the seat incorporate 'ride height' lines. Furthermore, this category of booster should have more demanding assessment procedures to ensure booster seats coming onto the market actually achieve improved protection for the children using them. What this paper offers that is new is a safer class of booster to take older children through till they safely fit an adult seatbelt. This paper explains the need for each component and shows the suggested dimensions of an exemplar restraint. The full text of this paper may be found at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv21/09-0355.pdf