Does NHTSA rate the safety of child restraints?
Not presently. On May 23, 2005, NHTSA released a Notice of Final Decision on its pilot testing program in simulated crash situations to determine how well child restraints perform, as well as pilot testing in the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) to determine how well vehicles protect children. Based on an analysis of the data, the agency feels that a rating program based on sled testing would not provide practicable, readily understandable, or meaningful information to consumers. Furthermore, it is our belief that the current Ease of Use consumer information program provides consumers with sufficiently helpful and meaningful information when purchasing a child restraint.
