The Swedish Plus Test sets the gold standard for car seat safety, specifically evaluating the effectiveness of rear-facing car seats in protecting children during severe frontal collisions. Unlike standard tests, it focuses on the forces exerted on a child's neck and head, ensuring they remain well within the safest limits. Its rigorous criteria underline the importance of using rear-facing car seats for as long as possible to maximise child safety in vehicles, highlighting its critical role in preventing serious injuries in young passengers.
Evolution of Safety
As the name of the test suggests, the test originated from Sweden's commitment to enhancing road safety, particularly for the youngest passengers. Recognising the limitations of existing car seat safety standards, Swedish safety experts developed the test to address the need for stricter criteria, focusing on protecting children's heads and necks in frontal collisions. This evolution reflects a broader shift towards more comprehensive safety evaluations, ensuring car seats provide the highest level of protection in real-world scenarios.
Test Criteria
The Swedish Plus Test rigorously assesses rear-facing car seats, emphasising the safety of the child's neck and head by measuring the forces exerted during frontal impacts. It distinguishes itself by setting exceptionally high standards, ensuring that only car seats offering superior protection pass. This focus on reducing neck strain and preventing head injuries in severe collisions places it above conventional tests.
How It Compares to Other Standards
Unlike other tests such as the European ECE R44 or the newer UN R129 (i-Size), which have broader criteria, the Swedish Plus Test specifically zeroes in on the most critical safety aspects in the most challenging scenarios, making it a benchmark for safety in child car seats. Its detailed, focused criteria mean that seats passing this test offer unmatched safety, providing an elevated level of assurance to parents.
The key distinction:
- UN R129 / i-Size — covers a wide range of impact types and age groups. Mandatory for new seats sold in the EU and UK.
- ECE R44 — the older standard, weight-based rather than height-based.
- Swedish Plus Test — voluntary, additional certification. Specifically tests neck and head forces in severe frontal impacts. The strictest rear-facing standard in the world.
The Testing Process
The testing process involves a detailed step-by-step evaluation where car seats undergo rigorous crash simulations. These simulations are designed to mimic severe frontal collisions, providing a realistic assessment of the seat's performance in protecting the child. The role of crash simulation is crucial, as it accurately measures the forces exerted on the child's neck and head, ensuring that only seats capable of minimising injury in real-world conditions pass.
Specific criteria measured include:
- Head excursion — how far the head moves forward in a crash
- Neck forces — tension and bending forces on the cervical spine
- Head acceleration — the rate of deceleration the head experiences
All measurements must fall within defined limits that are stricter than any other certification standard.
Why It Matters
The Swedish Plus Test epitomises the pinnacle of car seat safety, focusing on the protection of children's necks and heads during severe frontal collisions. Its stringent criteria and detailed testing process set it apart from other safety standards, ensuring only the highest-quality seats pass.
For parents, a Swedish Plus approved seat means:
- The seat has been independently verified to go beyond legal requirements
- Your child's neck and head are protected to the highest possible standard in the event of a frontal crash
- The seat is designed and built with safety — not just compliance — as the primary goal
At Saunders & Smalls, we stock a carefully curated range of Swedish Plus approved seats. Every seat in our collection that carries the approval has been through this rigorous process.