Not only parents take care of the safety of the child in the car, but also the state, which has developed the rules for transporting children in transport. And in particular, we are talking about such a tool as a holding device. "FEST" is the most well-known and widespread remedy in Russia, about which there is a lot of talk among parents.
What is it for?
In addition to the fact that traffic rules require reliable fixing of the child when moving vehicles, adults themselves understand the need for such a useful thing as a restraint device. FEST is only one of the most famous brands.
During the movement of the car, the child can not only get injured as a result of an emergency, but even become its cause if it is not reliably fixed. And ordinary seat belts here are not quite suitable. There are several reasons for this.
Why can't you use regular belts?
By all rules, the child must be fastened in the car. Why then do not fit ordinary belts, which are located in the back seat? If only because if they fasten the child, then they will go wrong, in most cases squeezing the airways, neck and chest. This not only causes discomfort to the child, but is also extremely dangerous.
That is why they advise, including the traffic police, the holding device "FEST". Or any other that allows you to correctly distribute the straps: from the shoulder to the stomach and across. That is, exactly like an adult, when he is fixed in the car.
Is there an alternative?
Many parents are distrustful of such a device as the FEST holding device, preferring a child’s car seat. Of course, in many respects the latter surpasses all possible harnesses, belts and fastenings. But it costs an order of magnitude higher. And many parents need to transport a child, for example, only once every couple of months. And to get because of this a whole car seat is an unnecessary waste of money.
Another alternative fixture is called a booster. It is a foam pillow covered in fabric. It is used as a substrate under the baby’s ass, so that the seat belts pass exactly where it should be. However, boosters have a significant drawback - a too small child will still not be fixed firmly in it, and too much space will be too small in it.
Is FEST so safe?
Perhaps the issue of security worries parents more than financial. And in this regard, the device holding "FEST" significantly loses to car seats for children. Crash tests carried out by various experts confirm this. Such clamps during a severe accident, even if they prevent the child from flying out of the seat, still do not protect against injuries, most often in the abdominal cavity.
In addition, it is noted that a child in a collision with a car also receives a header either on its own knees, or on the front seat. On the other hand, if the baby is transported at a short distance, and the road is completely safe, then there is nothing wrong with using "FEST".
Expert Opinions
The restraint for children in the car ("FEST") is not familiar to many foreign experts, despite the fact that the packaging with this lock indicates that it fully complies with the safety rules established in the European Union. Therefore, foreign experts conducting crash tests of cars using the latest mannequins (Q-mannequin) are unanimous in the opinion that it is impossible to use such tools. They are unsafe for the child, as they lead to injuries that are most often incompatible with life.
From the point of view of safety - the restraint for children in the car ("FEST" in particular) cannot be used. This is the opinion of foreign experts. Yes, and many Russian experts, too. However, the certificate for the device still states the opposite - approved, permitted, recommended.
The opinion of the traffic police
Since many parents still buy such clamps not for safety reasons, but because of savings (fines for an unfastened child have increased significantly over the past two years), it will not be out of place to know how traffic police respond to this device. In most cases, they do not focus on it, allowing it to be used. And there is a reason for that. The use of FEST holding devices is permitted, since they completely fall under the description of structures that are prescribed in GOST R 41.44-2005.
What does this document say? A child’s car seat or any other adjusting device is considered to be restraining, including a set of straps, flexible mounts and clips with buckles or fasteners. “FEST” fully falls under this description, which means that the traffic police simply have no reason to write a fine.
Opinion of parents
All adults with children were divided into two opposing camps: some violently oppose restraints, citing a lot of arguments and facts, others are of the opinion that such a latch is quite enough for driving around the city or moving over short distances with a child in a car. It is difficult to say who is right and who is not. So, for many, it really does not make sense to spend fabulous funds on good and high-quality car seats, while others need this because of different circumstances.
It is worth noting that some parents who do not have their own car purchase a restraint so that they can easily call a taxi and go with their child to their destination. Unfortunately, not all taxi cars are equipped with locks. Therefore, drivers, fearing a fine, simply do not take such passengers. "FEST", the price of which varies around 250-400 rubles - this is the best option for parents who do not have their own car.
Terms of use
Naturally, even such a frivolous, in the opinion of experts, device has its own operating rules. This is, first of all, an age category. According to the instructions, you can transport a child with a restraint from three years old. Moreover, its weight should be at least nine kilograms. And only in this case, you can use the holding device "FEST". How many years is understandable. But what about the kids?
Many parents with children who have not reached the required age, fasten them with the help of "FEST". If the child’s height allows it (110 cm), and the belts are placed correctly, then there is nothing criminal in this. In addition to age, there is another limitation. Only one child can be fastened! One device - one baby. And no other way. The adapter, although it has not passed multiple foreign crash tests, is recommended and approved for use in the Russian Federation, which means that any mom or dad can safely fasten their child in the car without fear of getting a fine from the traffic police. And, of course, it is important to try to avoid accidents on the roads.