Failure Analysis of Unique Child Passenger Safety Scenarios

Abstract

Special circumstance scenarios exist where a child safety seat (CSS) cannot be, or is not, used according to best practices recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This research identifies three such scenarios that uniquely affect the safe use of CSS. The first scenario examines children fitted with a lower extremity body cast due to developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) or femur fracture that prevent proper CSS fit for the child or the caregiver’s vehicle. A CSS must be used properly, according the user manual and vehicle owner’s manual, to ensure the child’s safety in and around vehicles. However, even with these available instructions, it is very common for caregivers to misuse the CSS. The second scenario in this research looks specifically at when the CSS is improperly used as a child restraint outside of a vehicle. Finally, the future of mobility is trending towards an incorporation of autonomous ride-share vehicles on public roads. Proposed automated vehicles (AV) vary greatly in size and shape, both on the exterior and the interior. With these changes, along with the likelihood of bi-directional drive AVs, CSS best practices for use may no longer be able to be followed. The third scenario develops a Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) specific to children being transported in AVs operating at Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Level 4 or Level 5 Driving Automation to investigate the specific potential failure modes and effects of child passenger safety in automated vehicles.