Crash tests

An overview of the special purpose car seat crash testing and findings

Tests Products tested Assessment process Meetings Findings

Tests

To date 180 crash tests/assessments of 36 products have been conducted. This includes a review of 22 previous sled-crash tests undertaken by VicRoads (the road agency in Victoria) during 2013-17, and 102 tests as part of NeuRA PhD research.

The tests have been undertaken across three testing centres - Britax Childcare Pty Ltd, NeuRA (Transurban Road Safety Centre), and APV-T Test Centre. The earlier VicRoads testing was undertaken at Crashlab, NSW.

Twelve of the products assessed have been published on MACA’s national product register.

Products tested

Products are listed by Importer (Participant), Product(s) and (manufacturer - country).

Stabilo Multiseat

(Stabilo – Poland)

Carrot 3000

Carrot XL

(Seeds Co. Ltd. – Japan)

Hero-NXT

Hero-XL

IPAI-LGT

Starlight-NXT

Kidsflex 2

Kidsflex 3

(Hernik GmbH – Germany)

Special tomato soft touch booster seat

(Special Tomato – United States)

Spirit Car Seat

IPS 2000 series

(Inspired by Drive – United States)

*Note: Crashlab 2013 data was used for assessments against the AuSAP Test and Assessment Protocol

Baffin.1

Simon Car Seat

(LIW Car Technology - Poland)

Thomashilfen Commander

Thomashilfen Defender

Thomashilfen Hercules Prime

Thomashilfen Hercules Small

(Thomashilfen - Germany)

Quokka

Wallaroo

(Etac – Australia)

Assessment process

Following testing and assessment the AuSAP Expert Committee reviews the AuSAP Test and Assessment Protocol's Parameter Assessments for each product. The Parameter Assessment assigns ‘good’, ‘acceptable’, ‘marginal’ or ‘not acceptable’ against each of the selected criteria tested, and is used as an internal guide for discussion by the Expert Committee.

This assessment process does not allow for direct comparisons between products, due to their often unique designs in providing for the needs of children (and older occupants) with disabilities and medical conditions. This is unlike other independent programs, such as Australia's Child Restraint Evaluation Program which applies star ratings.

Importer/manufacturer meetings

A key strength of AuSAP and its participants is a shared commitment to collaboration and learning.

Following review by the Expert Committee, the findings are openly shared at meetings with Australian importers and overseas manufacturers. It is reinforced in these meetings that AuSAP is not a certification program, and is using selected criteria from AS/NZS 1754. Therefore we expect to find some results that the manufacturers have not experienced previously (e.g., component failure).

Where an AuSAP finding is not acceptable (e.g., product component failure, structural failure) the overseas manufacturer is provided an opportunity to consider changes to their product and follow-up testing.

It was a pleasure to meet you and your team! It is very interesting to hear what your organisation is doing for special needs transport. I wish this could be similar in other countries.
Hans-Georg Hoeft, Export Sales Manager, Thomashilfen, Germany

Findings

The following highlights the status of each product. Where a product has not met the AuSAP Test and Assessment Protocol, this may be due to a minor component failure, or a more significant finding (e.g., submarining of the dummy). In addition, since commencing AuSAP a number of products have been withdrawn from the Australian market.

AuSAP is an ongoing program and this list is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect current results.