Crash course: Dangers due to roads

We’ve discussed how vehicle crashes are linked to a number of factors such as driver distraction, driver age, and crash avoidance technologies, but a new study has now examined how crashes relate to the physical condition of roadways. The study by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) found that roadway conditions affect the cost and severity of crashes more than when alcohol or speeding were involved, or the cost of not using seat belts.

Road conditions are a factor in 52 percent of the nearly 42,000 deaths and in 38 percent of non-fatal injuries in the U.S. In monetary terms, this translates to more than $217 billion a year, which is much more than the $59 billion the government is putting into roadway improvements. In addition, crashes due to poor road conditions cost American businesses $22 billion in insurance expenses, worker compensation claims, sick leave, and Social Security. Plus, these crashes cost government (taxpayers) at all levels an estimated $12.3 billion.

The study also ranked the states by road-related crash costs. Topping the list at over $116,000 per million vehicle miles of travel is Alabama, followed by South Carolina and Louisiana. The state with the highest cost per mile of roadway is Hawaii at over $330,000, followed by California and the District of Columbia.

The study’s authors had some suggestions to help make the roadways safer for users: Structural changes include adding or widening shoulders, improving roadway alignment, and replacing or widening narrow bridges. More immediate solutions include installing better signs, brighter pavement markings, rumble strips, and guardrails when necessary.

—Liza Barth

Driving with more than two kids

Fitting car seats can be a puzzle made more challenging with the need to transport multiple children. I have two children in car seats (one rear-facing and the other forward-facing) and recently had my 9-year-old niece with us for the weekend. We only have a small car and small SUV, so she had to squeeze between the car seats. We first tried the SUV (Toyota RAV4), but couldn’t access the center seat belt, because it was wedged under the forward facing convertible seat and wouldn’t move so that she could access it. We ended up using our Toyota Corolla. It was still a tight squeeze (luckily my niece is slender), but all kids were able to safely buckle up

When I was a child, back during simpler times, we would all pile in the car or station wagon. Car seats weren’t available, so it was easier to carpool and drive together. It made for lots of fun in the back seat. Obviously, the invention of child car seats has greatly improved child safety and reduced child crash deaths, but it also meant a change in the driving culture. If you want to drive more than your brood, you may need to install an additional child safety seat--if you have room in your current car. Progress has meant we lost the ability to car pool other kids, and thereby save gas and help our friends.

We were lucky that my niece doesn’t need to use a car seat, but if we had to fit another child in a car seat, we would most likely have a problem. The move from two to three kids in regards to transportation is difficult. Many people I know who have three children buy a minivan, but others decide they don’t want the stigma of a minivan and choose a 3-row SUV instead. However, they end up sacrificing fuel economy for image.

The good news is you may not necessarily have to “upsize” to transport more children. With the right car seats, you can potentially fit three across in some vehicles, but it requires buying narrow car seats. We recently posted our updated convertible car seat Ratings (available to online subscribers) where we list our recommendations for car seats that offer the best potential for fitting more than two children in the back seat. Armed with this information, you may be able to transport the family and friends without super-sizing your vehicle, saving money that could be used for college.

See our new car selector to compare vehicle fuel economy, plus check out our Ratings and buying advice on infant, convertible, and booster car seats.

—Liza Barth

Auto news highlights – June 23, 2009

2010 Buick LaCrosse gets four-cylinder engine
Times are a changing. A direct-injection four-cylinder engine will join a 255-hp, 3.0-liter V6 and 280-hp, 3.6-liter V6 later this calendar year. The new 2.4-liter base engine will produce 182 horsepower. Matched with a six-speed automatic transmission, GM estimates it will enable the luxurious sedan to achieve 20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway. [Consumer Reports New Car Preview]

Ford, Nissan, and Tesla receive billions in green tech loans
The federal government set aside $25 billion to advance green automotive technologies, and today it was announced that Ford, Nissan, and Tesla would receive significant loans from this fund. Chrysler and General Motors had previous requests denied, due to their financial situations. Ford will receive $5.9 billion, Nissan $1.6 billion, and Tesla $465 million in advanced technology financing from the Energy Department program. [Reuters]

GM asked to recall 2000-01 model year after trunk deaths
Kids and Cars has asked General Motors recall 2000-01 model year  sedans after two children perish in locked trunk. These cars were made before trunk-release latches became standard equipment. An aftermarket retrofit kit called the Quick-Out Emergency Trunk Release is available for $18 for installation in older cars. [Consumer Reports Safety Blog, Consumer Reports Kids and Car Safety hub]

Mini to expand dealer network
Mini USA announced that it will expand its 83-store network by 17 dealerships over the next year and a half. Mini has been well placed to serve increased consumer demand for fuel-efficient cars. New locations are expected in the following cities: Birmingham, Alabama; Pensacola, Florida; Alexandria, Virginia; Austin, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Fort Myers, Florida; El Paso, Texas; Ontario, California; Louisville, Kentucky; Raleigh, North Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee; Loveland, Colorado; Madison, Wisconsin; Mount Laurel, New Jersey; Allentown, Pennsylvania; San Diego, California and Tempe, Arizona. [Mini, AutoBlog]

No improvement seen for rear seat belt use
Rear seat belt use in the U.S. remains statistically unchanged at 74 percent for 2008 compared to 76 percent in 2007 according to the National Highway Transportation Administration.  Belt use in the rear seats is lower than the front seats, which is at 83 percent. The survey found belt use in rear seats is higher in states that have laws for belt use in all seats. [NHTSA, Consumer Reports]

New Jersey to ban GPS operation while driving
In a move to reduce driver distraction, Democratic State Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith has introduced a bill to “prohibit the manual operation of a global positioning system (GPS) device or similar navigation device by the operator of a moving motor vehicle,” according to Fox News. The legislation is the first of its kind, and the vote will have an important impact on how millions of drivers use these popular devices. [Fox News]

Legislation introduced to create teen driving standards
Some House of Representative members have introduced legislation that would set minimum standards for teen driving in order to reduce death and injuries; automobile crashes are the leading cause of deaths of teens in the U.S. The legislation would act as an incentive with rewards of funding for states that enact graduated driver licensing laws (GDL). Those states that don’t comply will have federal funding withheld. The GDL program will provide a three-stage licensing program, restrictions on night driving and restrictions against driving with more than one other person under 21 during the first two stages. [House, IIHS]

Road rage: Angriest cities to drive

New York City has a number of nicknames such as the Big Apple and Gotham, but now it can add another distinction—America’s Road Rage capital. According to the annual study by the Affinion Group, NYC tops the list as the least courteous U.S. city to drive in, up from its third place finish last year. It rudely took the title away from Miami. The city with the least road rage was Portland, Oregon, up from second place last year. See the list of top five best and worst cities below.

Cities with the worst road rage:

1. New York City
2. Dallas/Ft. Worth
3. Detroit
4. Atlanta
5. Minneapolis/St. Paul

Cities with the least angry drivers:

1. Portland, OR
2. Cleveland
3. Baltimore
4. Sacramento
5. Pittsburgh

The study was conducted via telephone (though not while driving!) between January and March 2009 with 2,518 interviews in 25 major metro areas.

Besides determining the best and worst cities for driving, the study also looked at driving habits and attitudes. The major causes of road rage, as determined by the study, includes aggressive driving, angry drivers, people in a hurry, traffic problems, and selfish drivers who are inconsiderate on the road.

The respondents noted behaviors by other drivers that can lead to road rage such as drivers who talk on the cell phone (which 84 percent of respondents see every day), speeding (58 percent), tailgating (53 percent), eating or drinking behind the wheel (48 percent), or texting while driving (37 percent).

In response to bad driving by others, those surveyed admitted to honking their horn (which 43 percent say they do every month), cursing, waving arms or fists, or making obscene gestures.

Road rage is a dangerous issue that can lead to car crashes, violence, and even death. In order to avoid becoming a victim of road rage, here is some advice for motorists:

• Stay in the right lane when not passing.
• Don’t tailgate.
• Use your directional signal when changing lanes or turning.
• Don’t honk your horn unnecessarily.
• If you see an aggressive driver, move out of the way.
• Be courteous to other drivers.
• Pay attention to the road.
• Never get out of your car to confront an aggressive driver.

While drivers who resort to violence on the road clearly have issues, aggressive driving behavior is mostly caused by stress. Here are some tips to avoid a meltdown behind the wheel.

• Plan ahead. If you’re not rushed, you won’t be as stressed.
• Get plenty of rest. (See our report on drowsy driving.)
• Know how you will get to your destination. (See our Ratings of GPS navigation systems.)
• Make sure your car is in good shape. (See our guide to car maintenance.)
• Try to wind down before your get behind the wheel.
• Develop coping strategies to avoid a blow up such as listening to calming music or a book on tape. Making good use of your time will reduce the stress delays cause.
• If you find yourself reaching a boiling point, pull over and take a break.

--Liza Barth

Drowsy drivers: Study finds motorists asleep at the wheel

A good night’s sleep seems to elude many of us. A recent study conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center found that about half of respondents either had trouble falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, or wake up too early. Sleeplessness can affect your daily performance at work, school, and on the road. Drowsy driving crashes can be hard to detect due to difficult and unreliable reporting, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates there are about 100,000 sleep-related crashes per year and 1,550 fatalities.

A 2005 survey from the National Sleep Foundation found 60 percent of drivers (168 million people) drove while drowsy in the past year and more than a third have fallen asleep behind the wheel. Four percent of these people, or 11 million drivers say they have either been in an accident or almost had an accident.

We’ve all been there—trying to stay awake while driving. Using all the tactics such as opening the window, playing loud music, and drinking caffeine, but the best and safest remedy is to pull over and take a short snooze or not drive at all if you’re tired.

Sleeplessness can lead to slow reaction time, poor vision, missed exits or traffic signs, and trouble staying in the lane. This puts the driver, as well as others on the road, in serious danger. The effects have been compared to driving while drunk.

The groups that are most at risk for drowsy driving are young males under age 26, shift workers, commercial drivers, and those with untreated or undetected sleep disorders. However, there are some things that can be done.

A number of trucking companies are screening their drivers for sleep disorders, such as apnea and helping them to receive treatment. They are also looking at studying the effects of installing a drowsy driving warning system in their rigs. NHTSA recently conducted a prototype study on these devices and found that it could have a positive impact on driver safety, but there are still a number of considerations such as cost to companies and driver acceptance.

For young people, a number of states have instituted graduated licensing laws that help build driving experience through a multi-stage program. One part of the program is a restriction on nighttime driving, which has helped to reduce accidents and deaths by up to 60 percent.

So, what else can be done? Here are some tips to help reduce or prevent drowsy driving.

• Get adequate sleep before you get in the car.
• Take breaks—especially if driving a long distance.
• Arrange for a travel companion to swap driving duties.
• Avoid alcohol and/or medications that can cause drowsiness.
• If feeling tired, pull off the road and nap for 15-20 minutes.
• Caffeine may help, but can take some time to get into your system and when it wears off can leave you even more tired.
• If you have a teen driver, implement your own nighttime driving restrictions.
• Drinking a good quantity of water helps as it prevents dehydration that can cause drowsiness. It also requires you to pull over regularly and stretch your legs for a bathroom break.

—Liza Barth

IIHS Top Safety Picks: Audi, Lexus, Toyota, Volkswagen

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced four vehicles that earn its Top Safety Pick award: the 2009 Audi Q5, 2010 Lexus RX, 2009 Toyota Venza, and 2009 Volkswagen CC.

To qualify for the Top Safety Pick accolade, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's three main tests: front-, side-, and rear-impacts. In addition it must be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC). All four of these vehicles come equipped with standard ESC and side air bags.

We recently tested all four. Our full Ratings are in the model overview pages of each vehicle (available to online subscribers).

There are currently 77 2009 models, so far, that earn the Top Pick award, up from 43 for the 2008 model year. Among them are most of the Subaru and Honda/Acura line as well as several Ford products and Volvo models. One reason for the increase is that IIHS has pushed manufacturers to make vehicles more crashworthy, improving occupant protection. Another reason is the addition of standard ESC, which will be required equipment on all vehicles by the 2012 model year. However, many manufacturers have wisely chosen to add this important safety feature to their line up before the deadline.

See Crash test 101 for more information on how the IIHS evaluates and tests vehicles. Also, check out our more than 300 crash test videos to see how vehicles perform in IIHS' front and side crash tests.

—Liza Barth  

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced four vehicles that earn its Top Safety Pick award: the 2009 Audi Q5, 2010 Lexus RX, 2009 Toyota Venza, and 2009 Volkswagen CC.

To qualify for the Top Safety Pick accolade, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's three main tests: front-, side-, and rear-impacts. In addition it must be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC). All four of these vehicles come equipped with standard ESC and side air bags.

We recently tested all four. Our full Ratings are in the model overview pages of each vehicle (available to online subscribers).

There are currently 77 2009 models, so far, that earn the Top Pick award, up from 43 for the 2008 model year. Among them are most of the Subaru and Honda/Acura line as well as several Ford products and Volvo models. One reason for the increase is that IIHS has pushed manufacturers to make vehicles more crashworthy, improving occupant protection. Another reason is the addition of standard ESC, which will be required equipment on all vehicles by the 2012 model year. However, many manufacturers have wisely chosen to add this important safety feature to their line up before the deadline.

See Crash test 101 for more information on how the IIHS evaluates and tests vehicles. Also, check out our more than 300 crash test videos to see how vehicles perform in IIHS' front and side crash tests.

—Liza Barth  

2009 Infiniti FX35: Lessons from a car that drives itself

Cars that can drive themselves are a technology of the future, right?

After driving the latest Infiniti FX35, I can answer the question with a definitive, sort of.

Our FX35 is equipped with forward warning, intelligent cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-departure prevention, and an “around view monitor” to aid parking maneuvers. Unlike similar systems we’ve tried before, the forward-collision warning and lane departure systems can help keep the car on track, push back on the throttle, and even apply the brakes, in addition to sounding alarms inside the cabin. In stop-and-go traffic, the distance-control alert system can even bring the car to a full stop.

Using these systems, the FX35 can brake and accelerate on its own, and it can even provide small steering inputs using the brakes. I tried to leave the systems turned on as much as possible to experience their capabilities and limitations.

Mostly, it all works as advertised. But driving is about a lot more than stepping on the gas and brake, or even turning the steering wheel.

For example, the FX35 won’t stop for stop signs when no one else is around. Neither do many of my fellow drivers, I realize, but it’s still the law.

While the distance control alert can stop the FX35 behind another car in traffic, it doesn’t stay stopped for long. After about a second, it releases the brakes and creeps ahead – then applies the brakes again when it “sees” the car in front still hasn’t moved. If you don’t want to hit it eventually, you’ll still have to hold the brakes.

Before the FX applies the brakes, the distance-control alert system pushes back on the gas pedal to try to get the driver to back off when approaching another car too closely. For better or worse, that means much of the time the driver is fighting extra throttle resistance in suburban cut-and-thrust driving. Worse, when the car in front of you suddenly moves out of the lane or goes around a curve, it can create a disconcerting momentary acceleration as the resistance in the gas pedal is suddenly diminished.

Using the intelligent cruise control allows the car to accelerate to a pre-set speed (by using the cruise-control’s Resume feature). The cruise allows you to set the following distance for between two seconds and three seconds behind the car in front of you. Until I timed it, I found it troubling that I always wanted to use the closest setting. But the system builds in a healthy safety margin.

Infiniti’s lane-departure warning system works in conjunction with the side- and forward-view cameras. It does a good job identifying when the FX35 drifts from its lane. (If you use the turn signals it won’t beep when you mean to change lanes.) Adding lane-departure prevention allows the system to apply the brakes on one side of the vehicle individually to try to pull the vehicle back into its lane. But at highway speeds, the system intervenes too late, and too feebly to really keep you from leaving your lane, much less negotiate a curve. (Other systems, on the Lexus GS and LS can also control the steering, but provide only slight inputs when moving forward, still not enough to negotiate curves.)

Not surprisingly, all these systems seem to be fighting the driver for control at times, mostly to try to get the driver to slow down, not follow so close, or stay in the lane, which might have the potential of keeping more cars on the road. But for most attentive drivers it’s often tempting  to just turn these devices  off. Human drivers are much more coordinated and smoother—so long as they are paying attention.

In reverse, our FX35 displays the car’s surroundings on a split-view screen on the center of the dashboard. (It works going forward at very slow speeds as well.) At first this seemed handy for knowing how close you are to other parked cars, for example. But I soon found I’m not much more coordinated at backing up an actual car by video than I am at driving video games. It was hard to follow a straight line without looking over your shoulder. As soon as you try turning to look, though, you realize it’s a good thing the FX35 has the around view monitor; it’s nearly impossible to see the car’s surroundings through the narrow window slits and around the big rear pillars. The surround video does provide an extra measure of safety, especially if children may be around.

In the end, it’s fun to try the technology of the future. But even with all these systems, you still have to drive the car.

See the complete Infiniti FX35 ratings and road test, available to online subscribers.

—Eric Evarts

Most small cars rate Poor in IIHS bumper tests

In tests of seven small and subcompact cars, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has found that none of the bumpers performed well in the equivalent of minor fender benders. In the four tests performed on each vehicle – full-width front and rear, and front and rear corner impacts – the worst-performing Kia Rio hatchback sustained $9,340 in total damage. Our tested Rio stickered for $14,110, so the damage amounts to more than two thirds of the car’s original MSRP. Damage to the Rio would cost more than a used Rio would be worth and to repair than most midsized cars and minivans the IIHS has tested.

In addition to the Rio, the Institute tested the Chevrolet Aveo, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Mini Cooper, Smart ForTwo, and Toyota Yaris. (Click links for road test videos.) IIHS rates cars on a scale of Good, Acceptable, Marginal, and Poor. Of the seven cars, none rated Good, and only the Smart rated Acceptable due in part to its pliable plastic parts. The Chevrolet Aveo received a Marginal rating, and all the rest rated Poor.

The IIHS introduced a new rating system for its bumper tests. The full-width front and rear tests are run at 6 mph (more than twice the federal standard which dictates 2.5 mph impact with no damage) and the corner tests at 3 mph. The test results are weighted according to how frequently those types of accidents actually occur, and the Institute calculates an average repair cost based on the weighting. To receive a Good rating, the average must be below $500, which is the cost of the deductible on most insurance policies. The cutoff for an Acceptable rating is $1,000, about the cost of replacing the bumper cover, reinforcement bar and paint on most cars, IIHS says. Any cost beyond that involves replacing lights, grilles, or engine cooling parts, for example, and warrants a Poor rating. Vehicles that are unable or unsafe to drive after one of the tests cannot receive better than a Marginal rating.

The IIHS’s bumper tests have no bearing on occupant protection or crash safety, only the cost of repairing damage from minor impacts such as what could happen in a parking lot. The costs of such repairs can have a big impact on insurance premiums.

Consumers buy small cars to save money, says IIHS spokesman Russ Rader. But these tests show one minor fender bender can wipe out any savings from their good fuel economy and low purchase prices.

Over 300 crash tests conducted by IIHS can be seen in our crash test video player. Also, videos on current-generation vehicles are now available from the model overview pages (for subscribers).

—Eric Evarts

Learn about car safety in "Crash Test 101" and "Rollover 101."

What to do with a used car seat?

Car seats are one of the most important baby accessories, providing essential safety, security, and convenience for transporting small children. In the course of a little one’s life, there will be a number of seat changes, meaning parents not only need to research the best ones to purchase but will face the challenge in how to dispose of many old seats.

In our house of two young children we have a variety of car seats for our two cars—an infant seat, convertible, and booster. Soon, we will be moving our youngest out of her infant seat and into a rear-facing convertible seat as she is getting too heavy to cart around and will likely exceed the weight limits of the seat. At that time, we will have an infant seat that we will not be using anymore. There are a number of choices to make as to where the old seat will go. Many organizations will not accept them as donations for resale due to liability concerns, and there is no way for the consumer to know the history of the seat when buying it second hand which is why we don’t recommend using used seats from someone you don’t know.

We could give our seat to a pregnant friend or relative (if you have one). They would know the history, condition, and age of the seat, and that it has never been in an accident. However, you should be aware that child seats also have an expiration date. Most are limited to around six years of use from their date of manufacture. You may have used up some if not most of the seat’s “life” and if the friend decides to have other children a few years down the road, the seat would likely be “expired.”. After six years, the plastics could deteriorate and become weakened by many seasons of extreme hot and cold temperatures experience in a car interior. Also, car seat standards are constantly changing, so a newer model would potentially be safer.

Which left me with the option of recycling. Unfortunately, car seat recycling is not as readily available as I’d hoped or as it is with electronics. Colorado’s Children Automotive Safety Foundation  has an extensive program, as well as a number of municipalities in Oregon and Utah. I also found new program in Morristown, New Jersey, which isn’t too far from where I live. Besides having a drop off, they have an annual car seat recycling day and instruct people how to dissemble their own car seats for recycling. When the time comes, you may be able to Google a recycling program in your community.

If there is no organized car seat recycling program in your area, call your municipal waste company to find out if they will recycle or can recommend an organization that will. They may be more willing to help if you volunteer to disassemble the parts yourself.

In the meantime, I’m going to further investigate my options for my old seat, while I won’t miss lugging it around, I’ll be sad to move on from this first stage in my baby’s life.

As the many seats that Consumer Reports tests each year also require disposal following our simulated crash tests, we too will be looking for alternatives to the landfill.

If you find that the only practical alternative is to dispose of the seat as part of the trash be sure to take precautions such as removing the straps and disposing of them separately or cutting them so that the seat can’t be used again, This is especially important for seats in poor condition, that are beyond the expiration date or have been in a crash.

For more information about child car seats, see our buying advice and Ratings.

—Liza Barth 

Car seats are one of the most important baby accessories, providing essential safety, security, and convenience for transporting small children. In the course of a little one’s life, there will be a number of seat changes, meaning parents not only need to research the best ones to purchase but will face the challenge in how to dispose of many old seats.

In our house of two young children we have a variety of car seats for our two cars—an infant seat, convertible, and booster. Soon, we will be moving our youngest out of her infant seat and into a rear-facing convertible seat as she is getting too heavy to cart around and will likely exceed the weight limits of the seat. At that time, we will have an infant seat that we will not be using anymore. There are a number of choices to make as to where the old seat will go. Many organizations will not accept them as donations for resale due to liability concerns, and there is no way for the consumer to know the history of the seat when buying it second hand which is why we don’t recommend using used seats from someone you don’t know.

We could give our seat to a pregnant friend or relative (if you have one). They would know the history, condition, and age of the seat, and that it has never been in an accident. However, you should be aware that child seats also have an expiration date. Most are limited to around six years of use from their date of manufacture. You may have used up some if not most of the seat’s “life” and if the friend decides to have other children a few years down the road, the seat would likely be “expired.”. After six years, the plastics could deteriorate and become weakened by many seasons of extreme hot and cold temperatures experience in a car interior. Also, car seat standards are constantly changing, so a newer model would potentially be safer.

Which left me with the option of recycling. Unfortunately, car seat recycling is not as readily available as I’d hoped or as it is with electronics. Colorado’s Children Automotive Safety Foundation  has an extensive program, as well as a number of municipalities in Oregon and Utah. I also found new program in Morristown, New Jersey, which isn’t too far from where I live. Besides having a drop off, they have an annual car seat recycling day and instruct people how to dissemble their own car seats for recycling. When the time comes, you may be able to Google a recycling program in your community.

If there is no organized car seat recycling program in your area, call your municipal waste company to find out if they will recycle or can recommend an organization that will. They may be more willing to help if you volunteer to disassemble the parts yourself.

In the meantime, I’m going to further investigate my options for my old seat, while I won’t miss lugging it around, I’ll be sad to move on from this first stage in my baby’s life.

As the many seats that Consumer Reports tests each year also require disposal following our simulated crash tests, we too will be looking for alternatives to the landfill.

If you find that the only practical alternative is to dispose of the seat as part of the trash be sure to take precautions such as removing the straps and disposing of them separately or cutting them so that the seat can’t be used again, This is especially important for seats in poor condition, that are beyond the expiration date or have been in a crash.

For more information about child car seats, see our buying advice and Ratings.

—Liza Barth 

Safe driving with children

There are a number of times I have noticed a young child seated in a the front seat, on an adult’s lap, or not properly restrained in a child seat in rear seat of a vehicle. As a mother of two young children, I often wonder if parents really know the dangers of not securing a child properly. If they did, such sights would not be as common.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in children aged two to 14. This is due largely to not using or improper use of child car seats and vehicle seat belts. A recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that half of children from infants to age seven who were killed in motor vehicle crashes were not in child safety seats.

How to protect your children

While car seat laws vary from state to state, there are general guidelines and steps to ensure the safety of our children. 

Even before a child is born, a pregnant woman should make sure she is properly protected in a vehicle. (See “Pregnant drivers and passengers: Buckle up.”)

Once the baby is born, an infant should be rear-facing in the back seat until they reach a minimum of at least age one and 20 pounds. But new research shows that they are better protected if they remain rear facing as long as 23 months. NHTSA and the American Academy of Pediatrics have amended their recommendations to reflect this latest research and now recommend that children should remain rear facing up until they reach the limits of a rear facing seat. 

If your child grows out of the portable infant seat before they reach age 2, you should purchase a convertible seat that can remain rear facing longer. Once they are over the limits, you can switch the seat to face forward.

A child should be in a forward-facing seat with a harness until they reach the height or weight limit typically,from 40-65 lbs and 50”. After that, they should ride in a booster seat until the vehicle seat belts fit properly, which usually is around age 8 and at least 57 inches tall.

All children under 13 years of age should sit in the back seat and there are some that advocate staying in the back seat until driving age. The most common type of fatal vehicle crash is a front crash and also the strong force of the air bag deployment is dangerous and could be deadly to young children.

Don’t be overly anxious to graduate your child to the next step in child safety too soon as each step forward in seat type may actually represent a step back in terms of their overall safety.

Choosing the right car seat is just one part of the safety equation. As much as 80 percent of car seats may not be installed properly. One way to ensure proper installation is to have your car seat inspected by certified technicians. To find an inspection station near you look to: http:// www.seatcheck.org or http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm

While there are many steps and purchases to be made as your child grows, following these guidelines and tips will help ensure they ride safely.

For more information on infant, convertible, and booster seats, see our latest Ratings and buying advice.

—Liza Barth