If you think child restraints have not improved over the last thirty years, just take a look at some of these photos. Doesn't it make you just cringe? At the time, it was all that was available and these seats probably saved a life or two, or many. Looking at them now, needless to say, it was better to use these than having a child unrestrained in a vehicle. Fortunately, the companies who made these seats have made a lot of progress over the years and newer companies go to great lengths to establish themselves as safety innovators. Who are the leaders in safety innovation? Are all car seat manufacturers equal? When searching for the "safest" car seat available, there are several things to consider: All car seats have to meet the same FMVSS213 standards. All car seat manufacturers self-certify their seats. All car seats are designed by highly trained...

Are you one of those parents who had to go back to the store 3-5 times to exchange the car seat you purchased because it did not install correctly in your car? Why is it so difficult for car seat manufacturers to make a car seat to fit every car? Let's take a look at some of the most popular vehicle manufacturers and their products. Chevrolet makes 16 different models in the categories of cars, SUVs, crossovers, trucks and vans. Ford has a total of 17. Toyota makes 18 different models. Mercedes Benz totals 13. Volkswagen makes 11 model vehicles. BMW rounds out with 10 and Volvo makes only 9. Within these 94 different makes and models there are differences in: Seat belt retractors: Emergency locking, switchable and automatic Latch plates: Light-weight locking, sliding or fixed Buckles: Placement of buckles in the seat bite, forward of the seat bite and...

Have you ever wondered what would happen to Radian’s steel frame in a car crash? It is definitely something to think about when it comes to keeping your children safe in a vehicle. On November 9th there was a terrible crash involving several vehicles on Interstate 59 in Houston, TX. One of the vehicles, a minivan with a family inside, was struck by a 1500 lb steel pipe when the driver of an 18-wheeler carrying the pipes lost control of his truck. The minivan was crushed but, thankfully, all the children were restrained in car seats and did not suffer any major injuries. Two were in Diono Radian seats which were rear facing in the third row. Most modern vehicles, like the minivan in the Houston crash, are designed with crumple zones which spread crash forces away from the occupants. The Radian’s frame, like the minivan, is made of steel. However,...