Safer Travel For Children With Safety Seats

Accidents are not intentional, but take place unexpectedly. A category of accidents is traffic collision. There can be fatalities, injuries and damage to properties resulting from traffic collision. Even in a country reputed to have a higher degree of safety measures and adoption of the most technologically advanced systems in vehicle and traffic management, have a 40,000 annual fatality due to accidents. Safety requirements have been steadily increasing. The accident rates too have been steadily declining. But in terms of pure numbers, the number of deaths and injured too are on the rise. Rising population, increased travel and travelers and more traffic remain the unavoidable causes.

The active safety devices and systems and the passive safety devices and systems are the two types of safety measures. The active safety devices and systems require the traveler to carry out certain safety measures such as fastening the seat belt. The passive safety devices and systems on the other hand do not require any intervention by the traveler. They are automatic. Inflation of air bag on impact or sudden jerk is an instance of this category.

Children are more susceptible to accidents involving traveling in vehicles. Children are lighter and smaller than adults. They are the most vulnerable to sudden jerks and can easily be thrown off during collision impact. The safety measure such as active seat belts and airbags can be ineffective. It is recognized that children and infants need to be provided specific safety measures depending on their age, weight and height. Child seat, child safety locks, power window lockouts controlled by the driver to prevent opening of windows or doors by children inside the vehicle have become part of the mandatory safety measures in many countries.

Infant seat belts are specifically designed for infants. These are seats that are secured to the automobile. The infant is held firmly to the infant seat belt while traveling and in the event of an accident or sudden jerks. Infant seat belts have become mandatory in some countries as part of the safety regulations. Infant safety seats are available in the market in different models. Britax Frontier Booster Car Seat offers advanced shock-absorption as well as cushioning in side impact collisions. It is easy to set up the seat.

Internationally the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe has set an international standard for baby and child seats called ‘Regulation R44-04’. ISOFIX standard has been developed by the International Organization for Standardization in 1990 for car seats.  The United States equivalent of this is the LACTH. Some manufacturers supply ISOFIX standard compliant baby seats.