The draft reform of the General Traffic Regulation includes as a proposal that Children weighing less than 18 kilos would have to travel in safety seats placed in the opposite direction of travel.
And, according to a study prepared by RACE and Cybex, the placement of the child in the opposite direction, decreases the chances of dying up to five times. Therefore, the proposal is based on a reduction of up to 75% of the risk of injury to the child, in the event of a collision.
Current regulations do not include by law the orientation of child safety devices, it is only explicitly forbidden to use a rear-facing retention device when placed in the passenger seat without having deactivated the front airbag.
As we know, it is mandatory for children to travel in an approved device adapted to size / weight, until they measure 135 centimeters. From that measure they can continue using the same chair / lift (up to 150 centimeters), or secure with an adult belt.
What chairs will be valid for traveling in the opposite direction to the march?
Now, to prosper such a necessary proposal, the offer of chairs of groups 0, 0 + and 1, must be extended in our country, since the device itself must allow its placement in the opposite direction to the march.
This already happens in the first groups, not so in group 1 (up to 18 kilos / approximately 4 years), since most of the existing devices are not valid to be placed in this way. It must take into account not only the safety of the children, but also their comfort (having enough space in front of the legs).
It seems that only 10% of the child restraint systems of group I (up to 18 kilos) They can be placed in the opposite direction, and currently buying one of them is very expensive. This last point is not so important because it is certainly a good investment that lasts about three years, although obviously, not everyone could afford it (our companions of Babies and More, tell us that the Cybex Syrona 2013 costs 550 euros, and for give you another example the BeSafe Izi Combi is around 511 euros).
At this moment I am clear (and especially after the question of a commentator in this post last summer) that traveling in the opposite direction, while they are very small, is much safer, whether or not required.
The recommendation would therefore be, if you are going to be parents again, or you have a very small baby at home, that you start to consider buying a chair with these characteristics.
The reform of the Circulation Regulation proposed by the DGT, would also include the prohibition of children measuring less than 135 centimeters, occupy the front seat, something that is currently possible if approved devices are used.
For our part we will be pending to see if these proposals thrive in the new Circulation Regulation
UPGRADE: I want to clarify that the proposal of the DGT in the draft Reform, explains that, in any case, children should not exceed the age of four years. In other words, the calculation of the weight places at that age the moment they reach 18 kilos, but the obligation would be limited to the fact that the child does not exceed the expected age.
