Do High Crash-Test Ratings Guarantee Child Safety?

At Hunters Garage, we often spot incorrect child seat installations—which can negate even high crash-test ratings.

• Infant seats (up to 1.5 years): Should be secured with either a vehicle seatbelt or an ISOFIX base. A common error is swapping the lap and diagonal belts, which can cause the seat to detach in a crash. Also, make sure belts are threaded through their guides securely.

• Integrated-base seats (up to ~4 years): These use built-in harnesses. A frequent mistake is leaving harnesses too loose. The snugger the straps against the child's body, the safer the seat. Buckle the harness under outerwear to reduce forward motion in a crash.

• Seatbelt-only seats (4+ years): Secured with the vehicle seatbelt, possibly with ISOFIX support. The seat’s backrest guides the belt and protects from side impacts, also supporting the head during sleep. Errors include misrouting the belt over the backrest guide or improper backrest height, causing belt to rub the neck.

• Backless boosters are only a temporary solution for older kids and offer no side-impact protection. New models are only approved for children taller than 125 cm.