04#06#13' (European) Consumer Groups Umbrella Organisations ' The - PDF document

04#06#13' (European) Consumer Groups Umbrella Organisations ' The European Umbrella for New$Regula*on$on$Child$Restraints:$ Comparative Testing Benefits$for$Consumers ' ' ' The European Consumer Voice in Seminar on “Child Restraint System development and Standardisation certification driven by I-size standard and Euro NCAP protocols”, 6 June 2013 ' ' Ronald Vroman ' ANEC Traffic Consultant ' Raising Standards for Consumers Raising Standards for Consumers 1 2 2013' 2013' Introduction Introduction Current situation: • Children up to 1.35m / 1.50m must be transported in a R44 approved CRS. • Relatively low number of fatalities Consumer groups historically test CRS: • Concerns on misuse rates • Consumer information (steering market) ' • Influence Regulations ' Big achievements, but: Still room for improvement ' Raising Standards for Consumers 3 Raising Standards for Consumers 4 2013' 2013' Introduction Current Situation Main concerns on R44 raised in GRSP Car manufacturers and CRS manufacturers • Frontal impact, no side impact have a shared responsibility for the safe • Forward facing from 9 kg transport of children onward • Classification difficult to understand -> misuse (universal solutions not very universal) ' Raising Standards for Consumers Raising Standards for Consumers 5 6 2013' 2013' 1'

04#06#13' Current Situation Current Situation Consumer tests encourage side protection Consumer groups encourage longer RWF transport Not really facilitated by Regulation 44 Raising Standards for Consumers Raising Standards for Consumers 7 8 2013' 2013' Current Situation Current Situation Check when buying: ' • ECE 44 approval label • Correct mass group • Fits in your car(s) ' Raising Standards for Consumers 9 Raising Standards for Consumers 10 2013' 2013' Current Situation Current Situation Raising Standards for Consumers Raising Standards for Consumers 11 12 2013' 2013' 2'

04#06#13' Current Situation Current Situation Group 0+ (<13kg) Interface issues: Confusing info on age equivalent: • Insufficient belt length • Poor belt geometry Manufacturer A: <15 months • Interaction with car Manufacturer B: <18 months interior ' Raising Standards for Consumers Raising Standards for Consumers 13 14 2013' 2013' Current Situation Current Situation Misuse modes: Low Isofix awareness: ' ' • Wrong restraint system ' ' • 1% ISOFIX CRS in cars seen, (e.g. Inappropriate mass group) ' ' >45% of cars is equipped with isofix attachment points. ' ' • CRS not correctly installed ' ' • 20% drivers know ISOFIX (e.g. Belt routing, slack ) ' ' • CRS not allowed on seating postion (active frontal airbag, support leg on luggage compartment,...) Incorrect restraining of child (CEDRE study, 419 children in 177 cars, aug 08 – jul 09, France) • ' (e.g. slack in harness, belt under arm) Raising Standards for Consumers 15 Raising Standards for Consumers 16 2013' 2013' Current Situation Current Situation Message to consumers buying CRS: ' ? ' • CRS must be ECE 44 approved ' ? • Child must fit within weight range(s) of CRS ? ' ' • CRS must be suitable for use in your car(s) ' • Level of protection depending on correct use ' Top tether Support leg high mis- and non-use rates luggage compartment ' ' Raising Standards for Consumers Raising Standards for Consumers 17 18 2013' 2013' 3'

04#06#13' Current situation Advice to consumers using CRS: • Install carefully I-SIZE • Tighten harness • Switch to FWF as late as possible • Change to bigger CRS not too early Phase 1: integral isofix systems ' Raising Standards for Consumers Raising Standards for Consumers 19 20 2013' 2013' i-Size i-Size Improvements compared to R44: • Stature based classification ' • Range to be determined by CRS ' 1. Stature based classification ' manufacturer 2. Side impact test ' ' 3. Rearward facing mandatory up to 15 ' months minimally 4. Improved car-CRS interface Raising Standards for Consumers 36 Raising Standards for Consumers 22 2013' 2013' i-Size i-Size ' ' Increased universality ' ' Improved protection: ' ' • any i-size CRS can be ' ' used on any i-Size • Side impact included ' ' ' ' • RWF at least till 15 months of seating position in a car age • IMPROVED CAR ' INTERFACE! (appreciate OICA cooperation) Raising Standards for Consumers Raising Standards for Consumers 23 24 2013' 2013' 4'

04#06#13' i-Size Planning: ' • Phased introduction from 2013 ' onward ' I-SIZE • Phase1: isofix CRS, integral ' ' harness *) ' • ECE R44 Phasing out Phase 2: non integral CRS • Phase 2 non integral CRS ' may 2014 • Phase 3 belted integral CRS may 2014 *) exception likely for travel systems Raising Standards for Consumers Raising Standards for Consumers 25 26 2013' 2013' Phase 2: non integral CRS Phase 2: non integral CRS Phase 2, non integral CRS: Isofix optional (and must be stowable): • Universal booster seat (<135cm, backrest +sidewings) • No proven benefits in accidentology Difficult to define universal isofix car interface (allignment) • Universal booster • • Isofix boosters appreciated by consumers – user friendly (>135, side protection by car) Lower misuse rates in field study • Raising Standards for Consumers 27 Raising Standards for Consumers 28 2013' 2013' Phase 2: non integral CRS Phase 2: non integral CRS Euro NCAP: • Stature based increased attention for • • Side impact test car-CRS interface So far encouraging • findings, to be fed into • Issues: regulatory discussions • Belt geometry (+relation isofix anchorages) • Credits for i-Size ready Belt guidance • seating positions Kidfix in Renault Captur (supermini) Raising Standards for Consumers Raising Standards for Consumers 29 30 2013' 2013' 5'

04#06#13' Phase 2: non integral CRS ANEC wish list: • Improved belt geometry and belt guidance I-SIZE • Improved car interface, universal isofix, cooperative attitude OEM’s -> so far discussions disappointing Phase 3: belted integral systems • Keep transitional period short ' Raising Standards for Consumers Raising Standards for Consumers 31 32 2013' 2013' Phase 3: belted integral CRS Phase 3: belted integral CRS Two approaches proposed: From consumer point of view option 2 is preferable: 1. Include all belted systems (meeting either R44 • Clear message: check for Rxxx approval or i-size requirements) in R44 – Rxxx exclusively (all state of the art products same Regulation). isofix. • No mix of mass and stature based products in 2. Include all stature based classified CRS, meeting one Regulation new requirements in new Regulation. Keep R44 for mass based classified CRS, and stop approvals after transitional period. Raising Standards for Consumers 33 Raising Standards for Consumers 34 2013' 2013' Communication to consumers Communication to consumers Challenges: From ANEC perspective: • Bridging transitional period – for both cars and • I-Size: the next generation, but don’t dismiss CRS R44! • Raise awareness on new Regulation • Emphasise improvements on usability and safety • Avoid confusion • Information needed on use in ‘old style’ R16 approved cars Raising Standards for Consumers Raising Standards for Consumers 35 36 2013' 2013' 6'

04#06#13' Communication to consumers Communication to consumers Issues: Issues: • only few I-size ready labelled seating positions • EU Seat Belt Wearing Directive allows only R44 in cars available in the early stages CRS, and cannot be modified in time. -> in practise: when it fits in a car, it can be used ->EC: i-size regulation can be considered as an in old style ‘semi-universal’ positions improvement of R44. EC will communicate this in a ‘Commision Interpretation’ if necessary Raising Standards for Consumers Raising Standards for Consumers 37 38 2013' 2013' Communication to consumers Communication to consumers Issues: Informal (ANEC/CLEPA/EC) discussion started on • for some time two different regimes for CRS how to communicate i-size to the public : approval (mass vs stature based) are • need and wish for uniform communication operational alongside each other • manufacturers need also endorsement by ‘authorities’ as support -> keep transitional period short • uniform response to questions from the public (Q & A) • stakeholders invited in informal group, GRSP Raising Standards for Consumers 39 Raising Standards for Consumers 40 2013' 2013' Communication to consumers Communication to consumers EC taking the lead in developing postcard flyer: Consumer program ETC will publish test results on • advantages of i-size i-size CRS as soon as feasible. • different languages • EC recommendation • for distribution at retail points etc Raising Standards for Consumers Raising Standards for Consumers 41 42 2013' 2013' 7'

04#06#13' Thank you for your attention www.anec.eu $$ http://companies.to/anec http://twitter.com/anec_brussels Raising Standards for Consumers 43 2013' 8'