Types and features of the use of child restraint systems

When a child appears in the family, the car becomes an even more valuable companion. The main task of parents is to ensure the maximum safety of the little passenger. Special child restraints will help in this, which must be correctly selected depending on the age, weight and individual characteristics of the child.

What is DUU

A child restraint device (RLU) is a whole range of devices designed to safely transport a child in a car.

Depending on the age and weight of the child, different types of child restraints can be used, including:

• infant car seat;
• car seats;
• boosters;
• seat belt adapters.

According to Russian law, such devices must be used when transporting children from the moment of their birth to 12 years old. However, due to the individual characteristics of a child's development, it is possible to use a child restraint even at an older age.

It is necessary to select a restraint not only based on the recommendations of the manufacturers, but also taking into account the individual parameters of your child.

Why it is necessary to use a remote control

The main means of passive safety of the car (restraining belts, Airbag system) are created taking into account the parameters of an adult. They will not be able to provide adequate safety for a small passenger. The growing body of the child has not yet matured, therefore, with strong blows and under the influence of high speeds, children can get much more serious injuries.

Standard seat belts in a car are designed for passengers at least 150 cm tall. If you fasten a child with such a belt, the strap that fixes the chest and shoulder sections will be in the neck of the baby. As a result, in the event of an accident, and even with sharper braking, the child can receive serious injuries to the cervical vertebrae.

Child restraint systems are maximally adapted to the characteristics of small passengers, depending on their age. Fixing the baby securely, they help to avoid injuries in both frontal and side impacts.

Legislative framework

The obligatory use of child restraints in a car is fixed at the level of Russian legislation. According to clause 22.9 of the traffic rules, the transportation of children under the age of 7 in a car or in a truck cab must be carried out using a child restraint appropriate for the child's height and weight.

Small passengers aged 7 to 12 years old are allowed to be transported without restraints, wearing a regular seat belt. However, transportation should only be carried out in the back seat of the vehicle. If the child is in the front seat, the use of a child restraint remains mandatory.

For violation of clause 22.9 of the traffic rules of the Russian Federation, the driver will be fined in accordance with part 3 of clause 12.23 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation. For individuals, the fine will be 3 rubles, for officials responsible for transporting children - 000 rubles, for legal entities - 25 rubles.

Types of restraints

Depending on the design features, there are four main types of restraints for small passengers. Each of them can only be applied at a certain age.

1. Infant car seat. Used to transport babies from birth to 6-12 months. The main feature is that in the carrycot the child is in a safe curved bed that follows the shape of the body. Also DUU complements the collar that fixes the head. The cradle is placed strictly against the movement of the car. When installing such a restraint in the front seat, the driver must deactivate the passenger airbag.
2. Car seat. The most common type of child restraint system is designed for transporting children while sitting. However, some convertible car seats allow you to adjust the position and transport the baby lying, sitting or half-sitting. Equipped with XNUMX-point harnesses and additional side impact protection.
3. Booster. This device is a seat without an additional backrest. Allows you to raise the child relative to the seat in order to securely fasten it with a standard car seat belt.
4. Seat belt adapter - a special triangular pad that is installed on a standard car seat belt. The adapter allows you to fix the belt so that its upper part is not in the neck of a small passenger.

Classification of child car seats

Of all these devices, car seats are the most comfortable and reliable. Depending on the height, weight and age of the child, it is customary to distinguish several main groups of child car seats.

1. Group 0 - car cradles designed for newborn babies up to 6 months. These devices can carry babies weighing less than 10 kg.
2. Group 0+. This group also includes infant carriers. The permissible maximum weight has been increased to 13 kg, and the age - up to one year.
3. Group 1 includes car seats that can accommodate children under the age of 4. The maximum allowable weight for a child is 18 kg.
4. Group 2 - car seats with weight restrictions from 15 to 25 kg. Age category - up to 7 years old.
5. Group 3 is for older children between the ages of 7 and 12. The maximum load on such a device is 36 kg.

There are also additional categories designed for a wider age range.

1. Group 0 + / 1. Allows transportation of children aged 6 months to 3,5 years. Restrictions on the weight of the child - from 0 to 18 kg.
2. Group 1-2-3. These child restraints are intended for small passengers from 1 to 12 years old, whose weight ranges from 9 to 36 kg.
3. Group 2-3. Children from 3,5 to 12 years old are transported in such devices. Weight restrictions - from 15 to 36 kg.

Frame and frameless chairs

Another classification of car seats can be distinguished depending on their design. There are frame (classic) and frameless DUUs.

In classic versions car seats have a rigid frame that provides support for the spine. In the event of an accident, the frame partially absorbs the force of the impact. The only drawback of frame devices is their size and weight: if the parents do not have their own car, and they acquire a chair for periodically transporting the child in other people's cars, it is quite problematic to constantly remove and install the device.

Frameless options solve this problem. They are easy to take with you for transportation in friends' cars, rented cars or taxis. Also, the frameless chair easily adapts to the child's height, so it can serve for many years. However, compared to classic car seat options, frameless devices have a lower degree of protection for the child (for example, they do not have protection against side impacts).

Certificate of conformity

When choosing a car seat for their child, parents should pay attention to the presence of a certificate of conformity, confirming the compliance of the child restraint with the norms of the UNECE standard N 44-04 (GOST R 41.44-2005).

The conformity mark is usually affixed to the car seat itself. In addition, upon purchase of the device, a copy of the supporting document is issued along with the car seat.

The presence of a certificate of conformity indicates that the purchased child restraint is really capable of ensuring the safety of the child during the trip and in the event of an emergency.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Boosters and Belt Adapters

If questions about choosing a child restraint for transporting small passengers under the age of 4-5 usually do not arise, then parents of older children can already choose which device is better to use: a car seat, a booster or a belt adapter.

Of course, a booster or adapter is much more comfortable than a car seat. They do not take up much space, they can be easily taken with you to use, for example, during a taxi ride. However, both the booster and the belt adapter have the most important disadvantage - less safety:

• these devices do not provide protection against side impact;
• they are used only with a standard seat belt, while the five-point belt used in car seats fixes the child much more reliably.

If a motorist "transplants" his child from the car seat into a booster too early, or begins to fasten it using a seat belt adapter, this will not provide adequate protection, but, on the contrary, can seriously harm.

A child restraint should be included in every family vehicle transporting children under 12 years of age. The safest and most comfortable for a child is a child car seat that reliably protects both in frontal and side impacts. It is important for parents to select the device depending on the weight, height and age of the child and remember that any violation of the rules for transporting children in a car puts your child in serious danger.

Questions and answers:

Can I use a frameless child seat? Frameless child seats are mandatory equipment when transporting children. The main thing is to make sure that you have a safety certificate when buying such a model.

Can the frameless chair be moved forward? Since the type of child car seats is not specified in the legislation, the general rules for transporting children in seats also apply to frameless models.