World’s first child car seat with airbags launched in UK
- System detects a collision in 0.05 seconds and instantly inflates a set of airbags
- Bags in the shoulder pads of the harness protect toddlers’ heads from impact
- The pads reportedly halve the forces of a crash on a child’s neck and head
- The £550 ($730) device will be released in selected stores today
Harry Pettit For Mailonline
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The world’s first child car seat with built-in airbags is being launched worldwide today.
It detects a collision in 0.05 seconds and instantly inflates bags in the shoulder pads of the harness – protecting toddlers’ heads from snapping forward.
The £550 ($730) device more than halves jerking forces on the neck and head compared to other forward-facing car seats.
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HOW IT WORKS
In a frontal collision, children in forward-facing seats are at risk of severe spinal and neck injuries or traumatic ‘chin-to-chest’ strikes.
Maxi Cosi’s new ‘Air Technology’ uses an accelerator sensor and trigger installed in the back of the seat to set off a CO2 air cartridge.
This inflates a pair of small airbags around the child’s shoulders and chest.
The system detects a collision in 0.05 seconds – inflating the two airbags in the shoulder pads ‘within the blink of an eye’ to cushion the head softly.
In tests the seat reduced the forces acting on the neck vertebrae and the head in the case of a frontal collision by up to 55 per cent.
The system will be released in selected stores worldwide, and is suitable for children from four months to four years of age.
The seat, which can be used facing forward or backward, can also be used in the front passenger seat, manufacturer Maxi Cosi said.
Its shoulder pads automatically deflate one second after impact.
In a frontal collision, children in forward-facing seats are at risk of severe spinal and neck injuries or traumatic ‘chin-to-chest’ strikes.
Maxi Cosi’s new ‘Air Technology’ uses an accelerator sensor and trigger installed in the back of the seat to set off a CO2 air cartridge.
This inflates a pair of small airbags around the child’s shoulders and chest.
In the UK child seats must be used by law until children reach age 12, or 135cm (4ft 5in) tall.
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The world’s first child car seat with built-in airbags is being launched worldwide. The system uses an accelerator sensor and trigger installed in the back of the seat to set off a CO2 air cartridge. This inflates a pair of small airbags around the shoulders and chest
The system (pictured) detects a collision in less than the blink of an eye – protecting toddlers in the same way as adult
They must also be rear-facing until they are at least 15-months-old but can be forward-facing after this age.
Last year, 69 children were killed in road accidents in Britain – with a further 156 seriously injured.
Andrew Ratcliffe, managing director of Maxi-Cosi, said: ‘A few years ago, we investigated if and how airbags could better protect a child’s head and neck in forward-facing car seats.
‘Successful applications in airbag technology gave us inspiration, such as the airbag jackets for motorcyclists and airbag seatbelts in aircraft that inflate during a collision.’
Bags in the shoulder pads of the harness instantly inflate – then automatically deflate one second after impact. This stops the child’s head from jerking forward violently
The £550 ($730) device more than halves jerking forces on the neck and head compared to other forward-facing car seats, Maxi Cosi claims
‘Our Maxi-Cosi Air Safety technology® will lower the impact of an accident to a child’s neck and head in a forward-facing child car seat, resulting in better safety for toddlers.’
The system detects a collision in 0.05 seconds – inflating the two airbags in the shoulder pads ‘within the blink of an eye’ to cushion the head softly.
Mr Ratcliffe said in tests the seat reduced the forces acting on the neck vertebrae and the head in the case of a frontal collision by up to 55 per cent.
Maxi Cosi’s new ‘Air Technology’ uses an accelerator sensor and trigger installed in the back of the seat to set off a CO2 air cartridge (left). The system detects a collision in 0.05 seconds – inflating the two airbags in the shoulder pads ‘within the blink of an eye’
In tests the seat reduced the forces acting on the neck vertebrae and the head in the case of a frontal collision by up to 55 percent, Maxi Cosi claimed
He said: ‘Cars are not designed to protect our children best.
‘That’s why we keep innovating to ensure that children are transported by car as safely as possible.’
The first child car seat that will include the airbag is the AxissFix Air and will be available in selected stores from October 17.
It features a 360° swivel which can be used for both rear and forward-facing travel and is suitable for children whose height is between 61 and 105 cm (2ft and 3ft 5in).
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