The Britax Roundabout, a popular convertible car seat.

All About Car Seats

There are three main types of car seats on the market today. First, the infant car seat is designed for the youngest of children, up to 20 or 22 pounds. Most of these seats have two parts, the base which stays strapped in to the vehicle's safety belt system and the carrier which snaps out and allows the baby to be carried without unfastening the infant from the harness (very important if Baby has finally fallen asleep!) The infant car seats are designed to be rear-facing, where the infant faces the rear of the vehicle. It is important for infants to be seated rear facing for the first year of life, until the muscles of the neck are strong enough to withstand the force an accident could impose on them.

A second type of car seat is called the convertible seat, and is designed for newborns through toddlers, or up until 40 pounds. This seat is designed to be used rear-facing for the first year of life, or up until the weight restrictions (usually 30 pounds). After this, the seat can face forward until the child reaches the upper weight limit, usually 40 pounds, although some car seats can be used longer. The most popular type of harness system for infants and toddlers is the five-point system, where the child is clipped by a series of three clips designed to evenly disperse the force of impact. The five-point system is highly recommended, although other systems (such as the three-point or overhead bar) may still be available.

After the child graduates from the convertible seat, it's time for a booster seat. These seats no longer use a separate harness system, the child and seat are both strapped directly into the vehicle's seat belt. The booster is designed to raise the child up in the seat so the vehicle's harness can function correctly. Booster seats should be used until the child is 80 pounds, at which time the child will be ready for the use of the regular seat belt. While some boosters are rated for children as light as 30 pounds, it is important to keep children in the 5-point restraint systems for as long as possible.

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | The top ten family cars

...space 2558 litres (seats down) NCAP crash test rating n/a ..No of doors 5 ..No of seats.....of three. It might make for a slightly wide car, but having six full-size seats is ...

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IIHS-HLDI | Vehicle ratings

...for rating seat/head restraints.. LOW SPEED CRASH TESTS.. test the effectiveness of.....then are subjected to a dynamic test. Seats with head restraints rated marginal or.....often is ...

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IIHS-HLDI | Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CHOOSE A TOPIC: About our crash testing program Other research Child safety About the Institutes Miscellaneous Fatality Facts, Q&As, State Law Facts and other ...

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News Article: Ford 500 Achieves Top NHTSA Crash-Test Rating; Sales Ind

... in NHTSA's top crash-test rating. A two-row Safety ... intrusion by channeling crash energy away from the ... An innovative cross-car beam "Space ... under the front seats reinforces the ...

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IIHS/HLDI: Crash Testing & Highway Safety

New dynamic tests of seats & head restraints in ... Crash test results are good predictors of what will happen to occupants of vehicles in on-the...

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Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | The top 10 green cars

...Boot space 150/550 litres ..NCAP crash test rating *** No of doors 3 ..No of seats 2.....but it is expected to do well. Its car-to-car collision performance is based on much.....15% Boot ...

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FORD FIVE HUNDRED ACHIEVES TOP NHTSA CRASH-TEST RATING; SALES INDICATO

... in NHTSA's top crash-test rating. A two-row Safety ... intrusion by channeling crash energy away from the ... An innovative cross-car beam "Space ... under the front seats reinforces the ...

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IIHS-HLDI | Vehicle ratings

Links to a wide range of vehicle tests performed at IIHS' Vehicle Research Center.

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The Daily Collegian - Jaguar receives unsafe crash test rating

Jaguar receives unsafe crash test rating. By Dee-Ann Durbin, Associated Press ... October 04, 2004 ... dummies in the front and back seats of a...

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IIHS/HLDI: Crash Testing & Highway Safety

Independent, nonprofit, research and communications organizations funded by auto insurers and dedicated to reducing highway crash deaths, injuries and property losses.

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