1: Why?

The head of an 1 year old child represent 25% of body weight and by a frontal impact in forward position, the head will “shoot” forward with a tremendous high energy. Neck loads up to 300 kg is normally measured by our crash dummies by impact speed of 50 km/h. Medical specialists recommend max. 130 kg. By rear facing seats, neck loads are normally under 8o kg.

2: Risk of Injuries

By forward facing there are 3 high risk issues!
- Neck injuries due to neck load, can lead to paralysis or be fatal.
- Skull and face due to impact with fragments in seating area.
- Injuries in inner organs due to belt intrusion can be fatal.

3: Low risk

Crash studies done by ICRT and ADAC of a huge number of child seats, are showing that head and neck injuries are 5 times lower by rear facing seat. Studies of real life accidents done of Volvo and insurance companies are telling that children in rear facing seats are 5 x times safer compared with forward facing.

Volvo study of traffic accidents

13 000 accidents of which 800 with children as passengers in the age of 0-4 years.
The risk of severe injuries by forward facing versus rear facing seats.

Rear facing           8%
Forward facing   40%

This shows that rear facing is 5 times safer than forward facing seats.

4: How long?

As long as possible – at least to 2 ½ year. 30 years practical experience with rear facing seats has shown that rear facing can without problem be used till the child is 3 years old. In some cars the space for the legs can be limited.