Testing Choices to Include New Hyrid III,
Current Hybrid II

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 7, 2008) — Manufacturers have options for the next two years to use different crash dummies when testing the effectiveness of child restraint systems for children weighing more than 40 pounds or taller than 3 feet, 7 inches, wrote the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last week.

NHTSA issued an amendment to the provision S7.1.3 of FMVSS 213 that extends an option for manufacturers to use the current Hybrid II 6-year-old crash dummies or the new Hybrid III 10-year-old and 6-year-old dummies in testing child restraint systems. Aug. 1 of this year was the new date that manufacturers would have been required to only use the new Hybrid III, as specified in 49 CFR part 572, subpart N because of improved biofidelity and extensive instrumentation that gives better data on child restraint performance.

NHTSA previously extended the testing compliance date to this month from Aug. 1, 2005, as stated in an interim final rule, after it received comments from manufacturers that there was an erroneously high rate of head injuries using the Hybrid III dummies based upon its posture while sitting in booster seats. This problem was addressed earlier this year in a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking, which found the dummy is more likely to submarine under the safety belt than a dummy that sits more upright and is better restrained. But NHTSA recognized the August compliance date was quickly approaching. There were also documented problems with the construction of the dummies that led to the femurs separating from the hip joint during testing and an error in the dummies’ drawing for abdominal inserts that do not match the mold.

NHTSA agreed to extend the compliance date for using the Hybrid III by two years while it underwent additional child restraint testing and to address the abdomen drawing and femur redesign. Manufacturers have the option to use either crash dummy until Aug. 1, 2010, while the seating and molding issues are addressed. The original interim final rule for FMVSS 213 was issued on July 28, 2005.