A matter of restraint

Date: Aug. 31, 1999
Time: 2:53 pm

"The decision to place expiry dates on children's restraint systems has been taken on the manufacturers' own initiative — no regulations require them to do so," said a Transport Canada information notice. "However, it is imperative that users follow the manufacturer's instructions with regard to the expiry date because, by attaching such a date, the manufacturer effectively disclaims responsibility for any failure of the restraint system past the stated date."

Transport Canada issued a warning that automobile child-restraint systems older than 10 years should not be used in 1993, but 4 years later manufacturers themselves began putting expiry dates on the car seats, booster seats and other restraint devices.

According to the recently released Transport Canada notice, manufacturers claimed that since most devices older than 5 years are pre-owned, the restraints may not have their original labels and instructions or may have been modified. They claimed that it is also difficult for second owners to know for sure whether the restraint had been involved in a collision which could render them unsafe. Manufacturers also claimed that because safety standards and warning information is constantly being upgraded, families with older restraints missed out on safety features available on models meeting current safety standards.

Although Transport Canada recommends following manufacturer guidelines and expiry dates on child restraint devices, the department recognizes that not all families will be shelling out for new car seats every three years.

"In an ideal world, every child would enjoy the protection of a brand-new restraint system," says the department. "However, a properly certified, well-functioning restraint system, even an older one, will provide high-level protection to its occupant when used according to the manufacturer's instructions."

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