Innovators in car seat technology, CYBEX, have set new industry standards once again as the Anoris T i-Size is announced as the safest car seat ever tested in its class, according to Child Safety Testing organisation, ADAC. The first car seat of its kind to have integrated full body airbag technology achieved an unprecedented overall score of 1.5 as well as a top score of 0.9 in crashsafety and 1.2 in the overall ‘safety’ category.

The recently launched Anoris T i-Size has been developed over the last 15 years by CYBEX founder Martin Pos, who has been dedicated to designing a car seat that offers all round protection to children even in forward-facing seating positions.

Martin Pos says: “For decades, airbags have been part of the safety equipment in vehicles designed to protect adults from serious injuries in the event of an accident, however this hasn’t been the case for children. Due to the tireless work and dedication of our development team and the availability of new technologies, we are proud to receive clear recognition from ADAC for our latest innovation. Thanks to its forward-facing capabilities, we are confident that a seat of this kind will transform the world of car seat safety.”

The recognition from ADAC comes at a time when Child Seat Safety, independent advisors to the UK car seat industry, retail, Government, emergency services and consumers, announced their latest research specifically analysing the direction of all car seats for all children aged four and under. Out of 2,000 car seats that were surveyed, more than 1 in 4 (26%) children were found to rearward face whilst 74% travel forward facing. 2% were found to be on unsuitable booster seats, 17% on high back boosters and sadly 1% were not restrained at all.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Julie Dagnall, Director of Child Seat Safety says: “The law states that a child should travel rearward facing up to 15 months and 76cm, whilst nursery industry guidance recommends that parents continue with rearward travel until their children are at least four years old and if possible six. Alarmingly, our research has revealed that 58% of children were found to already be forward facing at 2 1⁄4 years of age despite their seats accommodating rearward facing up to four years.

“Parents often move to forward facing travel due to a range of factors, including ease of travel, confidence that their little one is more robust and no longer a small baby and even travel sickness. At Child Seat Safety we have a responsibility to ensure parents understand that they should be transporting their children in the safest possible way. The development of the Anoris T i-Size and its full body airbag technology means that parents can have the confidence to return to forward facing travel, with the peace of mind that their child is secure and suitably protected in the event of a frontal impact.”