Abstract
There is a trend for manufacturers to make car bodies stiffer to improve crash test performance. This has been accompanied by the development of more sophisticated restraint systems for adult passengers, but the design of child car seats is lagging behind. Tests of 22 child car seats carried out by Which? showed that most child seats did not prevent chest and neck injuries in front and side impact crash tests. Three car seats did particularly poorly in the tests. A child's weight and size are key factors in choosing an appropriate seat. A table is presented ranking child seats for specific age groups according to specification, performance and ease of use.