When you buy a car, you might assume that the seats face forward. But what about cars made before 2000? According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), many older cars have seats that face backwards, which can cause serious injuries in a crash. IIHS has released a video warning drivers of the dangers of backward-facing seats and how they can protect themselves and their passengers. If you’re driving an older car, it’s important to switch your seat configuration as soon as possible. By doing so, you can help prevent serious injuries in a crash and save yourself a lot of grief down the road.
The Problem with Car Seats That Face Forward
When car seats are installed in a vehicle, the manufacturer typically dictates that the seat should face forward. However, there is growing evidence that this is not always the best position for infants and children.
There are many reasons why installing a car seat in a vehicle with the seat facing forward may not be ideal. Forward-facing seats place more of an emphasis on the shoulder bones and neck muscles, which can lead to problems with growth and development if these muscles don’t develop properly. In addition, infants who are rear-facing in a car seat have more space to move around and maintain their equilibrium, which can help them avoid falls and other accidents.
Some health organizations are now recommending that all infants be placed rear-facing in their car seats until they reach age 1 year old, instead of facing forward until they reach 2 years old as is traditionally done. While this change may take some time to become mainstream, it’s important to consider what’s best for your child’s long-term health.
The Benefits of Car Seats That Face Backward
One of the most important safety features in a car is the car seat. Car seats that face forward protect your child in a rear-end collision, but they also offer other benefits. Here are six:
1. Car seats that face forward improve a child’s air flow and breathing. When a car seat backs up, it can push a child’s head and chest against the seatback in front of them, restricting their air flow and their ability to breathe properly. Forward-facing car seats help reduce this danger by allowing air to flow freely around the child.
2. Car seats that face forward help prevent spinal cord compression in a rear-end collision. When a car hits your child from behind, their bodyweight can cause their spine to compress between the vehicle’s cabin and the seatbelt. This can damage your child’s spinal cord, leaving them with paralysis or even death as a result. A car seat that faces forward helps reduce this risk by giving your child more space between their head and the front of the car seat.
3. Car seats that face forward protect children from being thrown from the vehicle in a crash. When an accident forces your car into drive or reverse, your child may be thrown out of the vehicle – even if they are safely restrained inside the carseat. A car seat that faces forward reduces this risk by positioning your child closer to the center of gravity of the vehicle in case of an accident.
When to Start Turning Your Car Seats Around
Telling the difference between a car seat that should face forward and one that should face backward is simple: babies should always sit in a car seat that faces forward. This is because their heads and chests are safest supported by the airbag in front of them. Older children, adolescents, and adults may be able to tolerate sitting in a car seat that faces backward if they are sure the seat back will not hit their head or neck. However, most experts recommend that all children use a car seat with a forward-facing orientation until they reach the weight limit for their particular seat.
Conclusion
When it comes to car seats, it’s important to decide what age your child will be when they start using a car seat. Many manufacturers require children to use a car seat that faces the front until they are a certain age, but this isn’t always the best decision for their safety. While some research has shown that using a forward-facing car seat until your child is 4 or 5 years old can reduce their risk of injury in an accident by up to 90 percent, there are many other factors you need to take into account before making this decision. For example, if you have another child who is still too young to ride in the backseat without help, facing the front of the car seat won’t allow them enough space to play safely.