KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A new federal rule would mean all children’s car seats sold must meet a minimum level of safety requirements in side crashes, but unfortunately this could possibly take months or even years.
“Child safety is a big concern and I would be all for anything that is going to help protect a baby in a car accident,” said Kerrie Curtin, who is expecting twins.
It’s Curtin’s first time being a mom and she says she’s all for new regulations for child car seats.
“With all of our bigger cars on the road, and we’re getting so much more congested, I just think it’s a must,” said Curtin.
Federal regulators proposed a test for side crash protection in child safety seats on Wednesday. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the test simulates a side-impact car crash, and requires car seats to safely restrain a child up to 40 pounds. NHTSA estimates the proposal would save five lives and prevent 64 injuries annually.
“Anything we can do to add that extra protection, we’re definitely all for it,” said Sgt. Collin Stosberg, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
He says investigating crashes involving children is the worst part of his job.
“That extra padding or extra protection could prove to save a few lives,” he said.
Under the proposal, car seats would be tested by simulating a “T-bone” crash. This is the first time an effort is being made to test the effectiveness of child car seats in that type of crash.
“Our fatalities are at an all-time low, and we want to see that trend continue,” said Sgt. Stosberg.
“Anything that can make it safer, I definitely think it is something that we should all be thinking about,” said Curtin.
Once the side impact proposal is announced, the public will have three months to comment.
