On January 4, 2007, Consumer Reports published a safety alert in the
U.S. claiming that most infant car seats failed their new front- and
side-crash evaluation tests. The report also claims that of 12 seats
tested, only two performed well: the Baby Trend Flex-Loc and the Graco
SnugRide with EPS (i.e., expanded polystyrene). Only six of the twelve
infant car seat models chosen by Consumer Reports for this testing are
officially certified for and marketed in Canada. They are: the Graco
SnugRide; the Peg-Perego Primo Viaggio SIP; the Evenflo Embrace V; the
Graco SafeSeat; the Safety 1st Designer 22; and the Combi Centre ST. Transport Canada wants to reassure the Canadian travelling public that
the Department’s collision investigations and data analyses do not
support the results obtained by Consumer Reports. When car seats are
used correctly, they perform effectively in motor vehicle collisions
and child occupants are afforded optimum protection.
The Department takes the safety of children travelling in vehicles
very seriously and is continually working to improve crash protection
for children through research, development and enforcement of safety
regulations, participation in various national and international
committees that work on policy development, and public awareness
campaigns.
Transport Canada does not rate, endorse or approve children’s
restraint systems and booster cushions. Under the Motor Vehicle Safety
Act, Transport Canada develops and enforces the Motor Vehicle
Restraint Systems and Booster Cushions Safety Regulations (RSSR).
Certification of compliance to the RSSR is the responsibility of the
manufacturer or importer ("self-certification"). Manufacturers or
importers of children's restraint systems and booster cushions must
affix the national safety mark (i.e., a prescribed label with the
Canadian maple leaf) to their products to certify they meet all
applicable Canadian requirements in effect on the date of manufacture.
Transport Canada monitors compliance with the RSSR by providing
technical advice to manufacturers, conducting audits of manufacturers'
certification documentation, conducting compliance testing,
investigating compliance test failures and other non-compliance
conditions, and investigating public complaints alleging
safety-related defects.
Transport Canada would like to reassure the Canadian travelling public
that the Department’s selective compliance testing program has not
identified any safety issues with the above referenced Canadian
products. Should any compliance or other safety-related issues be
identified, Transport Canada would conduct a proactive investigation
with the manufacturer or importer to resolve the issues. At this time,
Transport Canada has no evidence to suggest a safety issue exists.
The Department would also like to make it clear that the testing
conducted on behalf of Consumer Reports is not a regulatory
requirement in any jurisdiction worldwide. The frontal impact testing
as conducted on behalf of Consumer Reports would be deemed to be an
extremely rare event. The Canadian regulatory frontal impact test
requirement is already representative of a crash scenario that is more
severe than 98 per cent of the real-world frontal crashes. The side
impact test results as represented by Consumer Reports are not
supported by Canadian on-road experience and collision data. Transport
Canada is conducting car-to-car side impact testing and is working
with international working groups to develop a relevant side impact
sled test protocol as well as advanced side impact crash test child
dummies. Further, Transport Canada is monitoring child injuries caused
by side impacts through its own crash investigation program and
through collaborative research programs involving a number of research
groups in Canada, the U.S. and internationally.
Throughout Canada, the provincial and territorial legislations for
mandatory use of infant and child restraint systems require that
products be certified to the applicable Canada Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards (CMVSS). Therefore, it is not advisable to purchase a
restraint system in the U.S., Europe or elsewhere and use it in Canada
because it does not meet the applicable CMVSS requirements and it
cannot be used legally in any province or territory.
Parents and caregivers should continue to use with confidence the
available restraint systems appropriate to the children’s weight and
height ranges recommended by the car seat manufacturer and ensure that
the seats are correctly installed.
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