I imagine the desire to get it tested is to make it more marketable and she likely knows parents like us would be attracted to something that has legitimately been crash tested.
I understand that. Although I'm not sure if I'd consider it legitimately crash tested, when there isn't anything TO crash test. Kind of like the stainless steel cups that advertise themselves as "BPA free" and if they provided tests to prove there was no BPA. In stainless steel, that doesn't use BPA in the production anyway.
Doesn't matter if it's been crash tested. There are no standards for after market products.
Wendy
But there are FMVSS standards that manufacturers already use to test their seat with and without harness covers, seat pads, etc. Some of these companies that make accessories are using the same FMVSS tests, and ensuring that the seat performs the same before and after. Not that I think that's a valid test for the items that can interfere with the seat (not this coat, as it just sits on top of the kid) because they are only testing a small subset of seats, I don't trust that an accessory manufacturer knows how to install the tested seats properly, that they know how to interpret the results of the crash tests, they aren't doing any extra tests outside of FMVSS (like the EuroNCAP side impact testing) that the car seat manufacturer may have done, etc. etc.
It does not go under the harness though. I don't see it as an "aftermarket" product at all. It is similar to the poncho only turns into a coat to wear just like any other coat when not in the car. Nothing goes behind the child or under the harness when in the car, just goes over like a blanket (sort-of). Her upcoming video will explain better how it works.
I've seen them in person (it's my cousin). They are really cool! Nice little coats but with the added bonus of being safe in the car too.
Exactly. Which is why I'm not sure of the purpose of the crash test? Marketing only?
I'm not sure what kind of response you want to this? The test results are a bunch of technical terms. She tested the coat at a US crash testing facility. They ran the tests on 2 of the same seats (I think Scenera for RF and either a Cosco HBB or Evenflo Chase for FF). The first test was without the coat, 2nd with the coat. There was no difference in the outcome of the testing with or without the coat. I hope that helps. She (and I) are not sure what kind of response you'd like to see on that one.
I didn't need help or clarification. I understood what she was getting at. I just think it sounded like she either didn't understand the report (which may not be the case) or that she's implying to parents that the report is "too statistical" or "a bunch of technical terms" so you (the parent emailing me asking about crash testing) isn't going to understand it anyway so I won't say anything about it.
I'd like to see an answer provided in the form of a document that would be consistent to everyone she sends it to. Right now, the answer sounds like she is typing for each inquiry and may be different for each person that inquires. I'd like it to describe why the product is safe and why it does NOT need to be crash tested, but then go on to explain why her company opted to do the testing (peace of mind for parents?). I'd also like to see it state the standard it was tested to and say which tests that were done as it doesn't sound like she covered all of FMVSS testing (wasn't clear if the FF seats were tested with harness or in booster mode). Was head excursion measured for example? Also say that the tests were conducted with one RF seat and one FF seat (or whatever it was). I'm not sure if giving the model is necessary, as I'd think that would be in the official report? I'd also like to see the report attached for the parents that would like to see it and are able to understand it.
Don't get me wrong, I think it's a cool product and there was lots of thought put into it. I just think if you're going to crash test something, you need to explain why it was necessary to crash test it, what your results prove, how it was tested, and be able to clearly explain the results achieved.
And you are the person I was thinking of that posted about this awhile back! Glad to see that your cousin is doing so well getting the product to market.
