Ride safer vest questions

[Joyofbirth]

So my dh wants to know how is this vest equal to a 5-point harness? He is saying since it is not anchor to the vehicle in 5 places, it is a 3-point restraint because it uses the car seatbelt. So please explain how the vest system works? Also, can the ride safer vest be used in conjunction with a booster seat to offer some kind of side impact protection?

[Gypsy]

If used with the tether (recommended) it crash tests like a 5 point harness.

Your dh is correct that it's a 3 point, but because the vest spreads the crash forces more evenly on the body it crash tests like a 5 point.

[Defrost]

And no, it cannot be used with a booster. :(

[papooses]

the vest spreads the crash forces more evenly on the bodyYes, there is far greater surface area of the vest in contact with the child's body vs. a traditional carseat option. RSTV crash tests like a harness because it has a low profile (less risk of head/sprine injury from impacting the vehicle interior) & the fact that it spreads crash forces out across the entire torso rather than just the hips & shoulders.

As long as the child fits the RSTV correctly & it can be used correctly in the center rear seat, I personally prefer it to any booster. If I have to use it outboard near the door, I usually prefer any highback booster instead (which are about 70% safer than backless boosters in side impacts -- backless boosters & the RSTV both lacking side impact protection). Assuming the child can stay properly positioned in booster. Even if the vehicle has rear side curtain airbags, a backless booster would lift the child up enough to ensure that their head is protected -- the RSTV sits so low that the airbags might not come down far enough.