Parents Beware: Unsafe and illegal car seat has come to SA!
All parents want to protect their children as best they can. When it comes to child car safety, the correct child car seat can seem extremely expensive and some parents may be tempted to choose a cheaper alternative.
This had led to thousands of unsuspecting parents across the world purchasing inexpensive “portable” car seat harnesses online. These “cheaper” options offer parents a false sense of security and do not help to prevent injury or death.
Also read: Isofix car seats a must for kids
Wheel Well are anxious to inform parents of the hazards of using this kind of device instead of a proper child car seat which conforms to EU regulations. Authorities in the United Kingdom have conducted crash tests on cheaply made and untested “portable” car seat harnesses and the results are sobering. These cheap imported seats were shown to disintegrate at a low-speed collision of under 60km/h, propelling a crash test dummy into the front of the vehicle.
To put this in perspective, a normal child car seat is tested to survive impacts at speeds in excess of 100km/h. With the huge forces involved in a car crash, parents must ensure they purchase car seats that adhere to current and tested regulations and standards. In South Africa, we adhere to European standards and the car seat must feature an orange European Economic Commission stamp of approval sticker.
Also read: Less than 7% of South African drivers put their kids in car seats
Parents need to be aware that any defects and shortcomings of a car seat will become apparent during a crash and by that time it will be far too late.
Prevent a lifetime of regret and make sure you buy the correct and legal seat for your child.
Source: Wheel Well