Passenger safety - next to a carseat

Anstar

New member
I've been trying to find information on safety for passengers sitting next to a car seat. Does the car seat impact their safety in the event of a crash? Or only if the seat is not installed properly? I can see not wanting to sit shoulder to shoulder with a Scenera... I'm specifically thinking of side-impact crashes.
 
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wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor
Staff member
It increases passenger safety next to the restraint. :) I don't have the study, I'm sure someone else does, but at least when looking at seven through 10 year olds in a no back booster or just seatbelt (I can't remember the details now), it increased their safety in side impact crashes significantly. Remember, the shell of the carseat is designed to be impacted. So it's fine for the person next to it to hit it as well. In fact, the Advocate capitalizes on this by adding airbags to the side of the carseat. Britax says it'll help the baby in the seat, which I guess it will if the seat is on the side, but moreso it'll help anyone sitting next to the seat by giving them even more ride down time. If they're sitting in the same direction as the seat, of course, and can fit next to that beast.

Wendy
 

Anstar

New member
Wow, really? That surprises me at first. Your explaination makes sense though. I'd love to see the study.
 

Anstar

New member
Wasn't there a car seat that was recalled about a year ago that had some kind of plastic reinforcement piece that sat at head level and might have caused injuries to the child in the restraint? Would something like that (an ill-placed reinforcement piece on outside of the seat) potentially injure another passenger? Obviously seats are engineered to be safe for the child inside them, but how much thought is given to the person sitting next to them?
 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor
Staff member
I don't remember that, but it wouldn't surprise me. However, that's one seat out of about a million made, and the person sitting next to it would have to be the right height and size for it to matter.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-09/chop-htb090905.php

That link has a small blurb about reducing lateral motion decreasing side impact injuries, but it doesn't mention a carseat versus another passenger. It's all I have bookmarked, though.

Wendy
 

joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician
I think that was the Scenera or Touriva that had a cutout/notch on the inside of the shell that made a sharp edge right next to the child's head riding in the seat, not the person next to the seat. I think there was no recall, they did redesign it, though. No news on whether they paid off the family whose kid died of head injuries caused by it, though...
All in all, you'd rather hit nothing in a side impact, or maybe an airbag, but a carseat installed tightly will prevent a lot of sideways body movement and thus injury potential, and plastic's not 'soft', but it's more giving than a door pillar, in the grand scheme of things. The Advocate does make the ride a little safer for next-to occupants, but it also decreases their shoulder room measurably, ironically.
 

Jennifer mom to my 7

Well-known member
I think that was the Scenera or Touriva that had a cutout/notch on the inside of the shell that made a sharp edge right next to the child's head riding in the seat, not the person next to the seat. I think there was no recall, they did redesign it, though. No news on whether they paid off the family whose kid died of head injuries caused by it, though...
All in all, you'd rather hit nothing in a side impact, or maybe an airbag, but a carseat installed tightly will prevent a lot of sideways body movement and thus injury potential, and plastic's not 'soft', but it's more giving than a door pillar, in the grand scheme of things. The Advocate does make the ride a little safer for next-to occupants, but it also decreases their shoulder room measurably, ironically.

I am pretty sure it was the touriva, and was from using the same shell for both the 5 point and the ohs version. I "think" they started sending out peices of eps foam to put in the spot if you asked, and they then changed the mold for the seat.
 

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