NHTSA 2006 Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings

[drey]

Has anybody seen this listing? What do you think of the results posted? My Marathon only scored a "B", while the Eddie Bauer 3-in-1 scored an "A"??? :confused:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cssrating/

Criteria for the ratings (from the FAQs):

Whether the restraint is pre-assembled or requires assembly after purchase.
Clarity of the labeling attached to the restraint.
Clarity of the written instructions on the restraint’s proper use.
Ease of securing a child correctly in the restraint.
Whether the seat has features that make it easier to install in a vehicle.


I guess ease of actual installation doesn't count towards "ease of use"... :rolleyes:

[twokidstwodogs]

I know nothing about the EB seat, but I must say, I do find my Roundabout (A grade) easier to install and use than my Marathon. A C for labels, though. I wonder why.

[joolsplus3]

It must not (installation count towards ease of use)...the cosco caress is utterly impossible for anyone to install in any car, but it got an A.

These ratings come out every year, and most of us scoff at them ;) (the labeling on Britaxes? They follow the FMVSS 213 standards down to the letter, yet get poor ratings by the 'testers'? Is this a prime example of our government's right hand not knowing what it's left hand is doing?)

[southpawboston]

yet we regard their automotive crash test data as gospel. :rolleyes:

[CPSDarren]

The crash tests are at least done in a controlled environment based on exact criteria. While in need of an update, perhaps, they are mostly objective. The ease-of-use ratings have more subjectivity and don't seem to correlate well with personal experiences from many technicans and parents. I don't think either one is gospel, but the crash tests have the added advantage that their results have correlated to real life fatality statistics.

http://www.car-safety.org/guide.html#cr