Consumer Reports Retracts Infant Car Seat Study!

[Meems]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16691288/&GT1=8921

:dizzy:

[vannienicole]

Wow. Just wow.

[GenomicsGirl]

Yeah - but I think that the new results are still going to show that at higher speeds, the car seats aren't as safe as we would expect them to be. Who knows, though, they're redoing the tests now! I'm looking forward to hearing the new crash test results.

Oh - I just saw on the news that it's because they did the tests at 70mph rather than the reported 38mph.

[2sweetboysmom]

Wow! We all knew there were a lot of questions and confusion, but wow. I hope they will go a step further and be more forthcoming about their methods and parameters.

[alegna]

Yep. IMO basically proving that CR carseat testing is totally meaningless.

-Angela

[Meems]

yeah, I'm w/ you. It's rediculous that a)the US doesn't test as they should for carseats and b) you can't trust the info given to you about safe/ unsafe seats!

[MommytoTwo]

I dont know. I am keeping the seat I bought after seeing that report. We drive at 70 mph all the time and most didnt do well at that speed. That counts for something.

[frenchie]

Yeah - but I think that the new results are still going to show that at higher speeds, the car seats aren't as safe as we would expect them to be. Who knows, though, they're redoing the tests now! I'm looking forward to hearing the new crash test results.

Oh - I just saw on the news that it's because they did the tests at 70mph rather than the reported 38mph.

The thing is, 90%+ of car crashes are at speeds of 30-35 MPH. Seats are tested at that because of those statistics. If they were made for higher impact crashes, it would compromise their performance in slower crashes. This is according to the NHTSA article I read in rebuttle to the CR article. 30 MPH is a HARD impact....I don't think people realize just how hard it is until they are in one. We were sideswiped in a van at about 25 MPH, in a early 80's Chevy van...we're talking solid steel body. The sliding door flew off, and the van spun about 4 times. One of the tires busted off the axle and another tire was ripped off completely from the rim. It's no walk in the park!!

[Wild Flowers]

Yeah, I was in an accident at probably 30 mph. A mild concussion, rib contusions(spelling?), and majorly beat up.
I still think that they are going to have a hard time getting people to believe just about any study that is out there about car seats now. People are going to be freaking out now wondering if their car seat is safe.

[GenomicsGirl]

The thing is, 90%+ of car crashes are at speeds of 30-35 MPH. Seats are tested at that because of those statistics.

Yeah, but if you're going 35mph and you're hit by someone coming at you (side or front) going 35mph, that's pretty much equivalent to the 70mph that were accidentally tested. I still think it's pretty interesting. Also, the highways around here have a speed limit of 65mph, so most people go 70mph - so the results might still be relevant, YKWIM?

I honestly think that the ones that did very poorly will still not do that well. And the ones that were in the middle of the list will probably make it up to a passing level. But I'm betting that at least a couple will still "fail".

I'm interested to see the new results. I'm glad that they quickly retracted their story once the error was pointed out to them. They really are on the consumer's side - they're not trying to fix anything in anyone's favour, IMO.

[frenchie]

Yeah, but if you're going 35mph and you're hit by someone coming at you (side or front) going 35mph, that's pretty much equivalent to the 70mph that were accidentally tested. I still think it's pretty interesting. Also, the highways around here have a speed limit of 65mph, so most people go 70mph - so the results might still be relevant, YKWIM?

I honestly think that the ones that did very poorly will still not do that well. And the ones that were in the middle of the list will probably make it up to a passing level. But I'm betting that at least a couple will still "fail".

I'm interested to see the new results. I'm glad that they quickly retracted their story once the error was pointed out to them. They really are on the consumer's side - they're not trying to fix anything in anyone's favour, IMO.

If you're hit at 70 MPH, you're not likely to survive such a crash. Not that you *can't*...the chances just aren't real high. Not only that, but an infant in a crash at 70 MPH is not likely to survive the impact...regardless of the carseat. Again, not that it's impossible, just not likely. That is a *gnarly* impact!!!
It will be interesting to see the new results.

[GenomicsGirl]

Again, not that it's impossible, just not likely. That is a *gnarly* impact!!! It will be interesting to see the new results.

"Gnarly" is right - I would not want to see the car wreck after such an impact. But I can't help but hope that maybe seeing those crashes might make a few people slow down on the highway. I'm always amazed at how fast people go. I remember in college physics, we learned that every car, no matter what make/model, will crumple like paper when hit at 80mph. No one is safe when people go that fast. It really scares me when I see families speeding.

[Electra375]

I saw one of the test crashes on the local news some weeks ago and the infant carseat was not even strapped in the vehicle correctly!!! The seat belt was going over the carseat and base together, instead of the seatbelt being used to secure the base of the infant carseat. I looked at it 2X (5pm and 6pm news) and just was in shock, testing a carseat and not even installing it properly. Of course the seat flew wildly back and forth and ended up on the floor of the vehicle.

I do not think that any of the infant with base carseats are safe, simply b/c of the way they are installed. Our vehicles seats slant and then the seat slips right out of the seatbelt!!! I gave up on them and use a large convertible rear facing and tether the back down to the seat front (have a van with bench seats now). I even took our car to the dealer and said this is a family car, you install this carseat properly -- they said they didn't do that kind of thing!

[frenchie]

I do not think that any of the infant with base carseats are safe, simply b/c of the way they are installed. Our vehicles seats slant and then the seat slips right out of the seatbelt!!! I gave up on them and use a large convertible rear facing and tether the back down to the seat front (have a van with bench seats now). I even took our car to the dealer and said this is a family car, you install this carseat properly -- they said they didn't do that kind of thing!

My Peg Perego doesn't budge when installed properly. If your seat slants, the instructions say to roll up a towel and place it in the slant to level it out. Most of the infant seats that I see have a small level on the side to help with installation.

[wombatclay]

And of course, this was 70mph in a side impact. And that's not just gnarly. That's "good night and good luck" regardless of the vehicle or seat anyone is in or the direction your infant seat is facing.

[alegna]

And of course, this was 70mph in a side impact. And that's not just gnarly. That's "good night and good luck" regardless of the vehicle or seat anyone is in or the direction your infant seat is facing.

:yeah:

A 70mph side impact crash is going to be INCREDIBLY rare, #1. And for all practical purposes, unsurvivable.

-Angela

[Marvelleaux]

I'm glad to see so much feedback on this. I'm often very trusting of CS's testing results because they've served me so well. However; just because they really s****ed the pooch on this doesn't mean every bit of testing they do is worthless. I'm very interested in seeing what the new test results are when they come out.

[alegna]

I'm glad to see so much feedback on this. I'm often very trusting of CS's testing results because they've served me so well. However; just because they really s****ed the pooch on this doesn't mean every bit of testing they do is worthless. I'm very interested in seeing what the new test results are when they come out.


No, it doesn't mean that all testing they do is useless. It DOES mean they are unreliable. Most of their usual carseat rankings also include price as well as safety (therefore a safer seat could score lower because it costs more :dizzy:)

It comes down to the fact that they simply are not a good source for carseat safety information.

-Angela

[MMGerard]

What is a good source for car seat safety information?

[frenchie]

It comes down to the fact that they simply are not a good source for carseat safety information.

-Angela

THANK YOU!!!! DH and I got in a heated debate over this subject. He totally trusts everything CR puts out, and I told him while they are a great source to search when buying a refrigerator, I trust the authorities when it comes to car seats. I insisted that the study CR did was flawed, and he insisted that the manufacturers were probably flawed. I hate to be that "I told you so" person, but I couldn't help say it to him when I read the retraction. :lol

[WinterBaby]

As I understand it, their 35mph front impact testing in which 7 seats failed is not the part currently contested.