NHTSA updates child restraint standard to include older, heavier children

Washington – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is updating (.pdf file) the federal safety standard for child restraint systems to include restraints for children weighing between 65 and 80 pounds. The update, announced Feb. 21, also authorizes the addition of a new crash test dummy that will test restraints for children weighing more than 65 pounds.

“As the marketplace evolves to accommodate changing consumer needs, it’s important that safety regulators also have the best tools possible for evaluating how well these products work,” Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said in a Department of Transportation press release. “The new test dummy breaks new ground for the Department’s crash test program and is a significant step forward for evaluating child seat performance.”

Manufacturers must comply with updated requirements resulting from crash testing of the new restraint systems within two years, according to the update.