[volkman10]

Crash test dummies, who have dutifully endured thousands of simulated accidents from the front seat, are about to get a ride in the back.

Safety advocates say the design changes to front seats has had an unintended consequence for those in the back: some have a tendency to collapse in even low-speed rear-end collisions, killing their occupants or the children seated behind them.

as part of a new emphasis on the safety of back-seat passengers, including children in car seats, which has lagged advances made for those riding up front. Lending urgency to the effort: the rise of Uber Technologies Inc., Lyft Inc. and a new car-sharing economy that has more people riding in the rear.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to test dummies in back seats in new models as part of its 5-Star Safety Ratings Program beginning in 2019. The program, started in 1978, has so far only measured safety for drivers and front-seat passengers

People assume a 5-star rating extends to all seating locations, but it doesn’t - automakers should make greater use of airbags in the back, improve seat belts so they work more like the ones in front that tighten during abrupt speed changes, and conduct education campaigns to encourage buckling up in the rear.

http://www.autonews.com/article/2016...r-riders-safer

[GTO]

About time I would say. Car manufacturers have figured out how to get 5 star ratings by protecting front passengers. But the value of the rear passenger's life isn't any less.

Good to hear that the trigger for this move came from Uber's popularity. The number of people riding at the back is only going to increase with time. These services are here to stay.

[Rajeevraj]

Good move. Hope the Bharat NCAP also starts planning to incorporate it. As the 'Julie knew her killer' safety advert shows ( link has been shared in several places, but reproducing below), unbelted passengers in the back could render any safety measures up front meaningless. Some focus on back seat safety may atleast get people to start buckling up. The Ex transport commissioner of Kerala- Rishiraj Singh had brought in a rule making seat belts mandatory for all passengers. Unfortunately he was ridiculed by even the members of the government and the rule was withdrawn. ( Related Link (Kerala: Seatbelts mandatory for all occupants (front & rear). EDIT, revoked!))

https://youtu.be/mKHY69AFstE

But why wait till 2019?

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Safety advocates say the design changes to front seats has had an unintended consequence for those in the back: some have a tendency to collapse in even low-speed rear-end collisions, killing their occupants or the children seated behind them.

Not sure if I understood this part.

Front seats have a possibility of collapsing only if passengers at the back are hurled towards the seat. But passengers/child seats are always firmly secured at the back because of seatbelts right?