Why do more than half of families not use child car seats correctly?

Despite advances in road safety, child road accidents remain an unresolved issue. In 2024, 18 children died in traffic accidents in Spain, a figure that returns the country to levels similar to those of a decade ago and makes it the second most accident-ridden year in the last five years.

Furthermore, according to DGT data, 385 children were detected without a suitable CRS or with one installed incorrectly in the latest monitoring campaign, a 20% increase compared to the previous year. And 54% of families in Spain use car seats incorrectly, the worst figure among the European countries analyzed in the Baseline Project conducted by the European Commission.

It also doesn't help that families choose to purchase child safety seats from non-European websites or second-hand portals, where compliance with regulations and minimum safety requirements is not guaranteed, as demonstrated by the latest studies conducted by AESVi (Spanish Alliance for Child Road Safety).

To reinforce this message, Cybex offers a low-speed collision simulator, designed to safely and visually demonstrate the difference between correct and incorrect installation. The demonstrations use two CRS configurations: the Sirona T model for children ages 0 to 4, and the Solution T for ages 3 to 12, both accompanied by dummies that faithfully simulate children's physiognomy. The objective is to illustrate, at a speed of 15 km/h, the real impact that improper use can have in the event of an accident.

Airbags have been protecting adults during car journeys for years and are a fundamental safety feature in any automobile. Nowadays, the possibility of someone purchasing a vehicle without them is completely unthinkable.

"A child restraint system is not an accessory or a 'ticket-removing device.' It's a life-saving device," says Philippe Darmigny , Cybex manager for Spain and Portugal. "According to data from the DGT (Directorate-General for Traffic), nine out of ten serious or fatal injuries could be avoided with proper use of these systems. The risk reduction reaches up to 75% if used properly," he concludes.