Consumer Reports conducted a study which found that most infant car seats 'failed disastrously' the crash tests even at low speeds such as 35 mph. The seats come off their bases, get warped in place, or sometimes are even thrown away.
Only two brands of infant car seats were recommended and the magazine suggested the federal recall of the Evenflo Discovery, which was found to be the poorest performing seat.But Evenflo disagrees with the study and in a statement said, 'The magazine's test conditions and protocols appear to conflict with the collective experience of car seat manufacturers, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and the scientific community.'
Consumer reports said all existing infant seat brands performed passably at 30 mph speed except Discovery.
Don Mays, a product safety director at Consumer Reports said, 'It's unconscionable that infant seats, which are designed to protect the most vulnerable children, aren't routinely tested the same as new cars,'
NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason said, 'We are always interested in making car seats better and safer but not more complicated and difficult for parents. We don't want consumers misled into thinking holding a child is better than putting it into a car seat.'
The magazine also reports that nine seats failed in some or all of the higher speed tests, but met the required 30 mph standard. One seat was considered undesirable because it did not fit well in several cars.
Source-Medindia
PRI/M
