Overview
The project is related to Czech compliance with UN Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) Regulation No. 44 (protocol with international validity), which concerns child restraint systems in vehicles.
The project is aimed at obtaining information for use in preparing the positions of the Czech representatives in international bodies forming the respective regulations and directives. This involves developing, testing and putting into service the set of devices for testing in accordance with UN ECE Regulation No. 44.
Side impacts were planned and performed (various Child Restraint Systems with Type P dummies from FTSS Europe were used), and also frontal impacts without Child Restraint Systems (those dummies were fastened to a bus seat with 2-point and 3-point adult seatbelts). Durability tests were also performed by repeated opening and closing of the restraint buckles and adjustments of the straps (5000 times) as well as checks on buckle opening forces and on the installation and use instructions.
Funding
Results
Discrepancies in the UN ECE Regulations No. 44 and 16 were noted for the Working Party on Passive Safety (GRSP – WP 29 ECE UN).
20 child restraint systems, purchased mainly in supermarkets, were tested. Tests included 5000 cycles of the central adjustor, 5000 buckle opening and closing cycles, dynamic tests on buckle opening force and check of installation and use instructions.
An array of imperfections and even defects was found (indicating insufficient influence of Conformity of Production testing).
There are several uniquely designed testing devices (among those used for testing child restraint systems), e.g.:
- Device for conditioning adjusting members (§ 7.2.2.7, § 8.2.7. and annex 19 R44 ECE)
- Device for retractor locking tests (§ 7.2.3.2) using a gravitational accelerator
- A mirror system extending the sight of the dynamic test (recorded with the electronic HF camera) by the ground plan.
Beyond the terms of devices necessary for the above-mentioned tests, preliminary drafts for the following devices were prepared:
- Catapult for inverse dynamic testing by using the kinetic energy of a flywheel. Its feedback control system uses a hydraulically operated clutch;
- System for monitoring the kinematics (and derivatively also the dynamics) of a car impact on a pedestrian (in particular a child) under reduced speed and deceleration. The laws of comparability are respected. The same reduction used for deceleration is applied for the gravitational acceleration (the device is falling in a controlled way to a depth of about 1 m).
Policy implications
The design, manufacture and checking of devices to test child restraint systems now allows the Czech Republic to test such child seats. Several child seats were shown to have imperfections with regard to the UN ECE regulation no. 44 (which specifies the requirements for such equipment). The facility to test the performance of child restraint systems according to UN ECE standards will help to ensure that in-car child safety systems sold in the Czech Republic meet legal requirements and thus improve the safety of children in vehicles.
Passenger
Key Findings
No results directly relevant to this theme. However, please note that some findings relevant to the project's key theme (Safety and Security) are generically applicable.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = 'urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office' />
Policy Implications
No policy implications directly relevant to this theme. However, please note that some policy implications relevant to the project's key theme (Safety and Security) are generically applicable.
&n