Are Car Booster Seats Safe for Children

IIHS Reports Shows 13 Seats Put Children at Risk for Injury

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – For the first time ever, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in conjunction and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute have tested car booster seat effectiveness with safety belt fit (not crash tested). The study found that numerous car booster seats did a poor job of positioning children to safely fit in their seat belts.

The organizations tested the effectiveness of 41 car booster seats and found that 13  did a poor job of improving the lap and shoulder belts for children, and they are not recommending their use.

Not Recommended

  • Safety Angel Ride Ryte backless
  • Cosco/Dorel (Eddie Bauer) Summit
  • Graco CarGo Zephyr
  • Evenflo Big Kid Confidence
  • Cosco/Dorel Traveler
  • Compass B505
  • Compass B510
  • Evenflo Generations
  • Dorel/Safety 1st (Eddie Bauer) Prospect
  • Cosco Highback Booster
  • Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega
  • Evenflo Chase Comfort Touch
  • Safety 1st/Dorel Intera

Best Bets

  • Graco TurboBooster backless with clip
  • Fisher-Price Safe Voyage backless with clip
  • Combi Kobuk backless with clip
  • Fisher-Price Safe Voyage
  • Britax Parkway
  • LaRoche Bros. Teddy Bear
  • Safeguard Go backless with clip
  • Volvo booster cushion
  • Recaro Young Style
  • Britax Monarch

Good Bets

  • Graco TurboBooster
  • Safety Angel Ride Ryte
  • Recaro Young Sport
  • Combi Kobuk
  • Safety 1st/Dorel Apex 65

To see the IIHS’s recent reports and press release visit their website at https://www.iihs.org.

Attorney Scott C. Murray of Murray Guari stated, “We believe this is an area where increased awareness could prevent injuries and save lives. The sad truth is that often, when children are injured or killed in auto accidents, they were not properly restrained. This is in part due to information and knowledge that parents may be lacking.”
Booster seats are typically used by children between the ages of 4 and 8. The seat belt is meant to be routed across a child’s lower hips (across the thighs) and mid-shoulders instead of the abdomen because the stomach area (liver and spleen) are more vulnerable to injuries.

“Even if just one injury is prevented, we have accomplished our goal,” added Attorney Jason Guari. “We seek to inform parents about the risks associated with improper installation and use of child safety seats, and help them ensure that they are restraining their children in the correct, safest way.”

Scott Murray and Jason Guari are partners in the law firm of Murray Guari Trial Attorneys PL. The firm founded in 2005, and is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, at 1525 N. Flagler Drive. Mr. Murray and Mr. Guari can be contacted at (561) 366-9099. Additional information about Murray Guari Trial Attorneys PL may be obtained from the firm’s website at www.murrayguari.com.