Swedish safety in the DNA of Axkid
Sweden is globally known as a country with high safety standards, and as a Swedish safety company, we couldn’t be prouder of that. But more importantly, we put the Swedish safety legacy into work by constantly developing safe car seats for all children. Enhancing the safety for children on the go is in our DNA and is the guiding star in everything we do and the reason why we exist.
The idea of rear-facing originates
The idea of rear-facing car seats was invented in Gothenburg, Sweden, by Professor Bertil Aldman. He was inspired by how astronauts travelled rearwards when launching into space and he developed the first prototype in 1964 with the objective to ensure that children are not exposed to life-threatening forces during a frontal collision.
Ever since Aldman launched the first prototype of a rear-facing car seat, Swedish parents, politicians, researchers, and suppliers have worked hand in hand to save thousands of lives on roads. It is not by chance that Sweden is one of the safest countries in the world when it comes to protecting children in the traffic.
Fun fact! One of the world´s toughest crash test, the Plus Test, also comes from Sweden. Read more about the world´s toughest crash test here.
Vision zero – no deaths in road traffic
In 1997, the Swedish Parliament voted for Vision Zero with the goal that no one should die or suffer lifelong injury in road traffic. Vision Zero has addressed many road safety challenges to reduce the gap between the goal and current situation. One such problem that has been solved with an innovation is children’s injuries in cars. Researchers, authorities, and manufacturers made a joint effort to develop a solution to the problem that Vision Zero had identified.
Do you know what the solution might be? Yes, rear-facing!
Vision Zero states that children with their fragile necks and inappropriate heavy heads should travel rear-faced to avoid severe injuries in the event of a collision. Furthermore, rear-facing has been crucial for solving the problem of children’s injuries in traffic.
Statistics
The extensive safety work has made great results, as Sweden is one of the countries with the lowest fatalities amongst children 0 – 5 years old. This makes Sweden one of the safest countries in the world for child safety on the roads.
But the work needs to continue.
Countries outside of Sweden do not have as good numbers when it comes to fatalities and injuries of children in traffic. And even in Sweden, vision Zero is not fully realised. For us at Axkid, it’s important that all parents worldwide are informed on how they can keep their child safe when travelling in the car. The information regarding rear-facing needs spread, so that parents can make informed choices for their child based upon the right premise. Without this knowledge, how can informed choice be made as to the safest option?
With headquarters in Sweden, Axkid continues the lifesaving work that professor Aldman started, by developing safe car seats and educating parents and stakeholders worldwide.
Sources: VisionZero_191218 (elogin.se)
