Facing Back to Move Forward - Why A Rear Facing Car Seat is the Safer Way

By Flux Communications

Think it’s time to turn their seat around? Think again. The science is in – and it’s saving lives.

Every year, thousands of South African children are injured or killed in road accidents, often while properly strapped in – but in the wrong kind of car seat for their age and stage of development. With Child Passenger Safety Week taking place from 21 to 27 September 2025, experts are urging parents to take a second look at how their little ones are buckled up – and more specifically, in which direction they’re facing.

“Rear-facing isn’t just a guideline – it’s a game changer,” says Debbie Billson, from Maxi-Cosi Car Seats and spokesperson for the 2025 Child Passenger Safety campaign. “It’s time we stop seeing turning a seat around as a milestone. In fact, keeping your child rear-facing for longer could be one of the most important decisions you make for their safety.”

The evidence is clear: rear-facing car seats can be up to five times safer than forward-facing ones for babies and toddlers. The reason lies in the unique physiology of young children. Their heads are disproportionately large, their neck muscles underdeveloped, and their spines still soft and flexible – making them especially vulnerable in a crash.

In head-on (frontal) and multi-vehicle collisions - the most common and often most severe accidents, making up around 60% of crashes - a forward-facing child is thrown forward, putting tremendous strain on the neck and spine. By contrast, a rear-facing seat absorbs and distributes the impact across the child’s back and head, significantly lowering the risk of serious injury to the brain, neck, and spine.

“It’s a simple shift in perspective that can make an enormous difference,” adds Billson. “Rear-facing is how babies naturally curl and protect themselves – the seat mimics that instinct and reinforces it.”

Internationally, extended rear-facing has become the norm. In the United States, most states require children to remain rear-facing until at least age two. In Sweden, where rear-facing travel has been standard for over 30 years, children are kept rear-facing until four years and older – and the country boasts one of the lowest child road fatality rates in the world.

South Africa’s regulations may not yet be as strict, but awareness is growing – and retailers and car manufacturers are stepping up to help educate the public.

Understanding how car safety features interact with child car seats is equally important. Car manufacturers, like the Kelston Motor Group, are increasingly supporting educational campaigns that raise awareness of correct seat use and positioning.

“We fully back the rear-facing message and are proud to help amplify it during Child Passenger Safety Week,” says Peter McNaughton, Managing Director of Kelston Motor Group.

According to i-Size safety guidelines, children should travel rear-facing until at least 15 months old. But many experts recommend extending that to four years or longer, depending on the weight and height limits of the car seat.

Every month brings noticeable changes in your child’s strength and development – but their neck and spine still need time. The longer you keep your child rear-facing, the better their chances in the event of a crash.

Before you turn that car seat around, ask yourself: Is your child really ready?

For more information, please visit: https://maxicosisa.co.za/news/child-passenger-safety/