Car Seat Technology- Implications for Insurers

September 23, 2011 | PR Newswire Association LLC

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Dorel Juvenile Group Announces Suite of Car Seat Technology at ABC Kids Expo

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG), a division of Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.B, DII.A) and the nation's largest juvenile products manufacturer, today announces its suite of car seat technologies across its Safety 1st® brand at the ABC Kids Expo (September 23-26, 2011) in Louisville, KY.  Addressing both critical safety issues and practical comfort solutions, DJG's exclusive technologies provide best-in-class features for child passenger safety, developed by engineers at the Dorel Technical Center for Child Safety.  

Unveiled at the Expo, the new Comfort Zone System is an electronic ventilation system integrated into the car seat, keeping children cool and dry as they travel.  Through air vents, Comfort Zone allows air to flow through the deep recesses of a car seat, creating air circulation where warm spots typically occur.  The Comfort Zone System has been proven effective in reducing discomfort from heat and sweat for children.  Comfort Zone debuts in the Safety 1st® Complete Air™ LX Convertible Car Seat and will be rolled into additional models in 2012.

In addition, DJG offers the FlexTech™ Energy Management System, ensuring car seats are strong and secure from the inside out.  FlexTech™ features an internal truss design, a methodology employed by architects to provide flexibility and distribute forces within structures.  With FlexTech™, DJG has translated this trusted design methodology to car seat engineering.  Currently, the Safety 1st® Essential Air™ Harnessed Booster Seatfeatures FlexTech™ technology, which absorbs and mitigates external force or impact, so children have more support and protection in the event of a crash.

This is great innovation that I expect to be worked into the rating of risks for property and casualty and more specifically auto insurance providers. In addition to the pay-as-you-drive and other similar programs, insurers who use this car seat technology should expect to see discounts on premiums because they are taking the proper precautions to lower risk and potential claim payouts in the event of a liability loss. Children are more at risk in car crashes because they are smaller and sometimes car seats are not installed correctly. Here, these seats work to distribute the forces from potential crashes in addition to providing other important perks for children.