Kid Car Seats Get School Bus Breaks and Extra Time from NHTSA
Published Date: 5/30/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
NHTSA is updating rules for child car seats to make things easier for school bus seats by giving them some exceptions and new labels. They’re also pushing back the deadline to follow these rules from June 2025 to December 2026. Plus, they’re changing how crash test dummies are used to keep testing fair and accurate.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
School Bus Seats Exempted From Side-Impact Rule
NHTSA proposes to exempt child restraint systems (CRSs) used on school buses from FMVSS No. 213a, the side impact protection standard, provided those school bus CRSs meet specified labeling requirements.
School Bus Seats Excluded From Anchorage Attachment Rule
NHTSA proposes to amend FMVSS No. 213 and FMVSS No. 213b to exclude school-bus child restraint systems from the requirement to provide attachments for connection to the vehicle's child restraint anchorage system.
Compliance Deadline Pushed to December 5, 2026
NHTSA proposes delaying the compliance date for the FMVSS No. 213a amendments from June 30, 2025 to December 5, 2026, postponing when affected school-bus child restraint changes must be met.
Change in Crash Test Dummy Use and Positioning
NHTSA proposes that the CRABI-12MO crash test dummy will not be used to test forward-facing child restraint systems and proposes changes to the CRABI-12MO positioning procedures to guide testing.
Labeling Requirements Updated for School-Bus CRSs
NHTSA proposes changes to certain labeling requirements in FMVSS No. 213 and FMVSS No. 213b so labels for school-bus child restraint systems reflect how those restraints are used on school buses.
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