Child restraint systems are essential when taking children in the car. That has no discussion. We are aware of the implications that a bad installation of these systems may have in case of an accident, however we continue to suspend: two out of three parents do not place the car seat well.
According to the Vanishing Point research institute for BMW on SRI (Child Restraint Systems), 62% of Spanish parents do not install the car seat correctly for children, which shows a great lack of knowledge regarding correct use.
BMW has conducted 806 interviews with drivers from 30 to 45 years with children under 10 years and have found that most parents do not manage well with the installation of the devices. It seems very simple but when installing them, it is not so easy, and we are not very clear how to use them.
Although experts are recommended that it is safer to always place the child facing backwards, that is, in the opposite direction to the march, 34% of the respondents place them looking back in the passenger seat and forward in the back seat while 28% place the chair looking back only in the first months.
On the other hand, 40% of parents do not know how long the child restraint system should be used. 22% believe that it should be done when the child turns 12 and 17% when they exceed 36 kilos. However, the only valid criterion is height, the chair is mandatory until the child reaches 1.35 meters.
To clarify things better, BMW has developed a decalogue. Let's see if we get better grades next time.
- Do not place any chair with your back in the passenger seat with the airbag activated.
- Use devices with your back to the march as long as possible (at least up to 4 years of age).
- Do not carry anything loose inside the cabin, not even small things. Use the trunk.
- Before purchasing the chair, check if your car has specific anchors (Isofix, top tether ...).
- Tense the harnesses that fit the pelvis and then those of the shoulder. Avoid bulky garments and seek direct contact of the harness with the body.
- Adjust the height of the harness as your child grows.
- Adjust the seat belt, first tightening the part that rests on the pelvis and then the one that crosses the chest.
- Keep the head adjusted to the correct height so that the belt rests on the collarbone and not on the neck. Make sure that the backrest of the front seat is at a distance greater than 85 cm from the rear when the child traveling behind is facing forward.
- Although your child already measures more than 1.35 m, extend the use of the device to the maximum (up to 1.50 m).
- Purchase your device at specialized sites and require installation by qualified personnel.
