A recent article in the Chicago Tribune blasts the government for failing parents and kids when it comes to safety standards and crash testing for children’s car seats.

Posted by Angi

The concept defies logic because, after all, the 40-year campaign for safety seats has been about protecting our children in the event of a crash. But the article follows a Tribune investigation of 2008 model year frontal crash tests, during which 31 of 66 children’s car seats flew off their bases or exceeded allowable injury limits. This alarming data was included in thousands of pages of test data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but it wasn’t specifically publicized. Why? Well, technically, the crash tests were evaluating the vehicles, not the car seats.

Before a car seat can be sold, it must pass a crash test on a bench sled that simulates a 30-mph, head-on collision.  They are not tested in real cars, and they’re aren’t tested for side-impact crashes. In the test results the Tribune analyzed, they weren’t even tested at the same speed: The vehicle crash tests were conducted at 35 mph into a wall.

Common sense tells you it’s nearly impossible to predict the damage from a real-world crash with tests that don’t use real vehicles. In fact, the Tribune found higher injury ratings in the vehicle crash tests when the baby dummy’s head hit the back of the vehicle’s front seats. The sled tests would not predict such injuries because there’s nothing to hit. The bench test doesn’t use anything to replicate the front seat.

Interestingly, in Europe, cars are rated specifically on how well (or how poorly) they protect children. In the United States, it’s not a factor. According to the Tribune, many child safety seats performed poorly even when they were tested in vehicles with five-star safety ratings, and ratings aren’t affected if a vehicle’s back seat breaks apart in a head-on collision.

If you want some comfort in all this, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has ordered a top-to-bottom review of child safety seat regulations and has ordered NHTSA to make crash test data more available to consumers. NHTSA also recalled the two worst performers on the crash test, and one child seat manufacturer has committed to a comprehensive overhaul of its evaluation system. NHTSA is also evaluating improvements for the sled tests, including possibly adding a front seat model.

Parents: What are your thoughts? What would make you feel safe—besides securing your young passengers in a protective bubble or full body armor?

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For another controversial look at the child seat debate, watch this interesting presentation from Steven Levitt author of Freakonomics. About 14:55 in, he advocates a different concept that has yet to take off. Watch now.

Although considered a somewhat rare occurrence, a vehicle fire is a circumstance in which you do not want to be unprepared. Following these safety tips can keep you—and other motorists—safe should you ever find yourself in such a situation.

1. First, do not panic, and pull off the road immediately if you see signs of smoke.
2. Unlock your power door locks in case your vehicle’s battery is damaged and electrical components stop working.
3. Turn the ignition to the off position to shut off the fuel pump and spark plugs.
4. Pull the hood release from inside the vehicle so firefighters can lift the hood if necessary to put out the fire.
5. Get everyone out of the car.
6. Call the fire department or 911.
7. Leave the sunroof, windows and doors closed and don’t open the hood. This will starve the fire of oxygen and may lessen its intensity.
8. Do not try to fight the fire yourself. Water won’t put out gasoline or electrical fires. Only Type B and Type C fire extinguishers will work in most cases. Dry chemicals are most effective, but they leave a corrosive residue.
9. If the fire is under the car, get out and stay away. The gas tank could explode.

Remember to get as far away from the vehicle as you can and stay away from it, even if the fire appears to be minor. Keep onlookers and others away from the scene. Do not try to retrieve possessions from the vehicle under any circumstances. Things can be replaced—humans cannot.

Sources: MondayMorningMechanic.com, National Safety Council

Having properly functioning brakes on your car is not optional—think about how hazardous even a short trip to the store would be without being able to stop as quickly as anticipated. You don’t want to be responsible for rear-ending that vehicle in front of you, so make sure you are paying proper attention to the wear that accumulates with normal, everyday braking.

A regular brake inspection is essential to proper vehicle care and can save you money in the long run.

First, make sure you get a brake inspection at least once a year. The inspection should include an evaluation of the brake pads and shoes, braking hardware, hydraulic fluid, rotor/drum wear, calipers and master cylinder.

Second, if your anti-lock braking system (ABS) light or your brake system warning light comes on, have the system inspected as soon as possible. An ABS light indicates a malfunction with the antilock brakes, and the ABS system will be disabled as long as the light is on. (Important Note: You will still have normal braking, just not the ABS.)

The brake system warning light comes on when the brake fluid dips below a minimum level in the master cylinder. This often happens under hard braking or around sharp turns when the brake pads are near the end of their lives.

In extreme cases, this light signals a serious safety problem. If you notice moderate to severe sponginess in the brake pedal or if the brake pedal goes straight to the floor, don’t attempt to drive the vehicle. It is not safe to drive. Have it towed to your auto repair provider because, most likely, there’s a major malfunction in the brakes.

In between visits to the shop, become attuned to your vehicle’s performance. Many problems related to brakes can be prevented by paying attention to telltale signs of trouble, including:

• Your car pulls to one side when you press down on the brakes, instead of stopping in a straight line.
• Your car jerks to a stop when you press down on the brakes.

• Your brake pedal is either mushy, difficult to press down, or you must pump the brakes to get them to work right.

• Your brakes grind uninterrupted and you hear a loud noise when you press down on the brake pedal.
• You notice a burning smell during or after driving that seems to come from one or more of your wheels.

• You see fluid leaks around any wheel or in the engine compartment near the master cylinder.

Don’t wait until your brakes are in any of the aforementioned conditions before you seek help—your life and the lives of others on the road are depending on the safety and peace of mind that regular brake inspections can provide.

Source: Automotix.net