Backless booster seats do not provide enough protection 
(10/09/2010)
According to new research, a staggering four out five British parents are unaware of the in-car safety legislations for children. Of the 1,000 parents surveyed, only 20% knew that children must use a car seat or a booster cushion until the age of 12 or when they reach 1.35 metres tall.
Alarmingly, it seems some are currently basing the decision to remove the in-car protection on the length of the journey, or even on their child’s comfort or attitude. Nearly a fifth of those surveyed say that they have felt pressure from their child to let them sit in the car without a high back booster or a booster cushion, while 15% say their child has pestered them in an attempt to only use the latter.
It’s also worrying that the average UK parent switches from a car seat to a booster cushion when their child is only six, meaning the child is no longer receiving any side impact protection. With new research by Loughborough University suggesting that one out of four car accidents are side collisions, which account for 20% of all child car crash fatalities, this highlights a massive need for parental education lead by car seat manufacturers
Britax is always striving to offer maximum protection for children as they develop. This week sees the discontinuation of their booster cushion as they urge parents to use high back boosters in their place. Child Safety Expert at Britax Mark Bennett explains “Our aim is to educate and encourage parents to use optimum safety measures for their little ones. Whilst booster cushions are better than no child car seat, they offer no side impact protection, and with one in four accidents happening side-on, this is essential”.
Which? – the independent, product testing consumer magazine - takes the same view as Britax on side impact protection, and recently issued a statement calling for backless booster seats to be phased out. Richard Headland, Which? Car Editor comments, "Which? welcomes Britax's decision to stop selling its booster cushions, and is calling on other manufacturers to do the same. While backless booster seats are better than nothing, they simply don't provide enough protection."
Mark Bennett continues, “The results of the research are extremely alarming. With only one in five parents aware of the in-car safety legislations there must be millions of children at risk, suggesting there is a huge amount of education required”.
Chris Patience, head of technical policy for the AA adds, “We urge all parents to think carefully about the in-car protection they provide for their children. The lack of any side impact protection means that booster cushions aren’t suitable for use as a child’s main restraint – for regular journeys in the family car.”
Designed to offer parents on-going tips about car seat safety, Britax recently launched a Facebook page called ‘Baby on Board: Keeping our Children Safe’, and today sees the launch of an interactive ‘quiz’ application that teaches parents about both the legalities and the necessity for side impact protection. Both are great sources of information for parents in need of some top line advice about the do’s and don’ts of in-car travel with their children.
Britax has also created a ‘crash test footage’ video which educates about the importance of using a car seat with side impact protection for older children by demonstrating the lack of protection offered by a booster cushion.
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