Car Seat instruction manuals are not being read and the result is that parents make mistakes in using and installing the car seats. This can lead to the car seat not performing as it should during a crash and children get injured. There is vital safety information contained in the manual that never reaches the parent. In fact, a car seat study in Europe found that the non- and misuse of car seats are the major contributory factor to children being injured in frontal crashes.
Wheel Well is embarking on a study to determine if a different way of presenting car seat manuals will be effective in conveying vital information to parents. Please see the attached document on more information.
Please circulate the attached information through your platforms. We need at least 200 parents to participate in this study and complete it, dads are welcome too. Participants in the study stand the chance of winning a Safeway Unify car seat in a draw that will take place on 15 November at 12 noon. The seat is valued at R2999.
The results of the study will presented as a paper to the 17th International Conference Protection of Children in Cars, December, 5 – 6, 2019, Munich (Germany).
Car Seat instruction manual study
Abstract: THE EC CASPER PROJECT CONSORTIUM, a major study on child injuries in car crashes, points out misuse as a major contributing factor in child injury and fatality in car crashes and “improving the use and the quality of use of restraint systems is the first priority in frontal impact”
Parents do not read the instruction manual that is supplied with their car seat. There are many installation videos available on YouTube, but it does not cover the important notices that are in instruction manuals by order of Regulation 44 and 129.
Social media groups provide advice to parents, but I have found that the advice is confusing, conflicting and often geared towards the sale of a car seat and not towards assisting the parent. In fact, most of the queries on these groups would disappear if parents were aware of the content of their instruction manuals.
Car seat installations that we have inspected through our Car Seats for Kids campaign shows clearly that manuals were not read, markings on the car seat are not understood and that a different way of doing things are required.
What if we do it differently and the instruction manuals were also delivered online as computer-based training?
- Would parents access the manuals?
- Would they have a better understanding of their child restraint?
- Would they prefer a child restraint that offers this option?
We have developed the content of a selected seat manual on the software and made it available to parents to study. They receive a unique log-on and can study the course as many times as they wish. On completion, they will receive a survey to complete and a certificate of completion. We require at least 200 parents to participate to completion. To participate, parents can contact Peggie on peggie@wheelwell.org.za
Anybody can participate and you need access to a computer and the internet. New participants can be accepted till 15 November and all participants who complete the course on or before 12 noon on 15 November will be considered for the final draw towards a Safeway Unify Child restraint.
The information and conclusions garnered from the study will be presented in a paper at the 17th International Conference Protection of Children in Cars, December, 5 – 6, 2019, Munich (Germany)
Please be in contact if you have any queries with regards to this study.
Much love
Peggie – peggie@wheelwell.org.za
Wheel Well is the only NGO that focuses exclusively on children in road safety and was founded in 2012 by Peggie. Wheel Well strives to be the most visible and audible change agents for children as passengers in private and public transport as well as for children as pedestrians.
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