Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

Previous CChIPS studies have quantified the strengths and shortcomings of the current FMVSS 213 regulatory test bench to accurately reflect system-level performance of child restraint systems (CRS) in crashes compared to production vehicle seats. As new updates to the bench are set to be implemented via FMVSS 213b, new data are needed to determine whether the updated regulations provide realistic responses of CRS compared to modern vehicle seats. This study will use sled testing to conduct frontal impacts of the same CRS conditions on the FMVSS 213b bench, a vehicle sedan (bench) rear row seat, and a second-row vehicle captain’s chair. Key injury metrics across seat conditions will be compared and the results will be used to contextualize how FMVSS 213b outcomes compare to those from production vehicle seats to broaden our understanding of real-world CRS performance and expectations.