Child restraint systems (CRS) are devices designed to ensure the safety of children when traveling in a vehicle. Article 117 of the General Traffic Regulations, which regulates the use of CRS and seat belts, establishes that all minor occupants with a height of less than 1.35 m must use, in all seats of the vehicle, a restraint system. adapted to your weight and size.
In 1981, the first European regulation for Child Restraint Systems was formalized, the ECE R44 regulation, to which another regulation was added in 2013, R129 or I-size, to adapt to technological advances. This latest regulation improves impact safety in side and frontal collisions and offers a greater probability of correct anchoring.
Based on the new regulations, it was established that safety seats would indicate the height range and an indicative age of the occupant. In this way, parents can choose the most suitable model for their child and be clearer about when they should replace the seat.
For a decade, both regulations have coexisted and saved lives, but this coexistence has come to an end. Since last September, no European manufacturer can manufacture child seats under the R44 regulation, nor can Child Restraint Services approved according to this standard be imported into the European Union.
As of September 1, 2024, after this transition period, the sale of R44 seats will be strictly prohibited. This does not mean that those who have a CRS under this approval have to replace the seat with another that meets the R129 or I-size standard. These seats will continue to be valid and safe, although those that comply with the most modern regulations are more up-to-date, reports the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT).
Traffic emphasizes that in terms of safety, the most important thing is to correctly use an approved seat chosen according to the child's size. This factor is essential to avoid 75% of injuries in the event of an accident, these sources assure.
The main differences between the two regulations that still coexist around CRS and that highlight the progress of R129 homologation compared to R44 are summarized in the following key points:
To know under which regulations a child seat has been approved, we must read the orange label attached to it. In the R129 or i-Size, the name of the regulation and the height of use of the chair appear. In Spain, around 85% of the seats in stores are of the most current regulations.
