Educational Materials for the Child Passenger Safety Field
News
A look back at the milestones in development of FMVSS 213 and other related standards
When FMVSS 213 was amended 30 years ago to require, as of January 1, 1981, dynamic testing and inclusion of all CRs for children under 50 pounds, it established the basic elements of the standard we use today. Here is a brief history of some of the significant milestones and substantial improvements to FMVSS 213 and other related standards.
Are you a global CPS learner, like me?
Thanks to all who attended my Kidz in Motion session “A Global CPS Survey: Products, Policies and Practices,” August 27/28, 2010 in Fort Worth.* ((The PowerPoint® presentation from the session is available on the Kidz in Motion Conference CD.)) As I mentioned during the session, the foundation of my research was identifying reliable CPS experts in regions around the world and surveying them regarding products, laws, standards and practices.
It was only after I had this grounding that I began to use the Internet for gathering additional information, and even then I did so cautiously. I share these Web sites with you as resources that you might find helpful for understanding the CPS viewpoints of certain countries and regions. Though I found them to be among the most reliable sites that I came across, I cannot vouch for their current or continued accuracy, and the views presented do not necessarily represent those shared by Safe Ride News.
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One of the many benefits of attending a national conference like Lifesavers is the opportunity to hear leading policymakers communicate what they perceive to be our top safety priorities. One plenary session at Lifesavers this past April featured a panel discussion with leaders in the areas of roadway improvements, vehicle technologies, and occupant behaviors. During another, the new NHTSA head, David Strickland, took advantage of his first opportunity to address the Lifesavers group to lay out his goals and strategies.
I heard many familiar messages at these sessions: Driver distraction (in particular, texting) is a major area of concern; motorcycle fatalities are alarmingly high; drunk drivers are still major contributors to crashes, as are teen drivers. Basic problems like speeding and seat belt use also were mentioned as major areas of focus.
Read More from “Decision-Makers Need to “Follow the Data” Back to Child Passenger Safety”
Why do some vehicle manuals warn that nothing should press against the back of the front passenger seat or be placed under that seat?
All boosters are not created equally, according to a recent report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) that rates the belt fit of many booster models. A booster should route the lap belt flat across a child’s upper thighs, position the shoulder belt at mid-shoulder, and consistently fit this way in a variety of vehicles. The IIHS has revised its evaluation system since its prior report from 2008.
An analysis of Partners for CPS (PCPS) data reaffirms that boosters are an important step in providing protection to child passengers. The research input was more complete than previously published studies, and the results still prove that belt-positioning booster (BPB) use is more protective than seat belts alone. Children ages 4 to 8 using BPBs were 45 percent less likely to sustain injuries than those using just the vehicle seat belt.
Read More from “Data Analysis: Boosters Benefit Children Ages 4 Through 8”
Over the past thirty years, the rate of obesity has doubled for children ages 2-5 and 12-15, and tripled for kids ages 6-11. Kim Hermann, Safe Kids USA, discussed how obesity presents challenges for child passengers.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released the updated clinical report, “Safe Transportation of Preterm and Low Birth Weight Infants at Hospital Discharge.” The report is the result of a lengthy and thorough analysis and review process headed by Marilyn J. Bull, MD, and William A. Engle, MD. The new clinical report replaces the policy statement on this subject that had been in effect since 1996. The AAP added the clinical report classification sometime after the prior policy statement was issued. With this update, it was determined that the document better suited the definition of a clinical report (“guidance for the clinician in rendering pediatric care”), so it was reclassified.
A Look Back at Fifteen Years of CPS Accomplishments
The history of CPS stretches back about 40 years, including the institution of the first CR standard in 1972, the dynamic testing standard in 1981, the passage of legislation in all states by 1985, and community education efforts. This article, by long time CPS professional Joe Colella, chronicles the past 15 years, encompassing issues such as compatibility, booster use, and national training that still are evolving today. For more detail, go to www.saferidenews.com to view a chronological timeline of CPS events* ((Update: this resource is no longer available.)).
A Chronicle of Child Passenger Safety Advances in the USA, 1965-2009 Compiled by Deborah D. Stewart, Editor Emerita, Safe Ride News Publications
1965: Physicians for Automotive Safety formed, pickets NY Auto Show, protests lack of occupant protection.
1971: Physicians for Automotive Safety publishes first pamphlet on child passenger protection, “Don’t Risk Your Child’s Life” (updated frequently to present).
1968: First child restraints designed for crash protection developed by Ford (Tot-Guard) and General Motors (Love Seat for toddlers). Followed soon thereafter by the GM Infant Love Seat (first rear-facing only restraint) and the Bobby Mac convertible seat (used both rear-facing and forward facing).
Read More from “More than Forty Years of Progress for Child Passenger Protection”