Tag: #RSA

CCPC warns consumers to avoid dangerous car seat head straps

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is warning consumers against the use of head straps in children’s car seats.

The product safety warning comes after extensive online market surveillance by the CCPC. Through these searches, the CCPC conducted a sweep of 100 product listings and attempted to obtain the required safety documentation for each product. All 100 listings were removed as the safety of the products could not be demonstrated.

The products in question were being sold across five online marketplaces; Amazon, Cdiscount, Joom, Shein and Wish. They may be for sale on other platforms or websites.

The head restraint accessory, which is sometimes described as a car seat head strap, a neck protection belt, head support hugger or a nap aid/sleep holder belt, claims to prevent a child’s head from falling forwards or sideways if they fall asleep.

However, an investigation by the CCPC’s product safety team established that these products are dangerous and could cause serious injuries to a child’s spine or neck during a collision or suffocation if the strap slips over the child’s nose and mouth, or strangulation if the strap moves down to their neck.

These products have already been recalled in Malta, Germany and Australia. While the number of products sold in Ireland is unknown, the CCPC is issuing a safety warning about the car seat head straps due to the serious risk they pose.

Grainne Griffin, CCPC Director of Communications said:

“Products like this prey on a parent’s basic instinct to protect their child. But instead of making a toddler safer, they put the child much more at risk. If the strap slips down over the child’s face or neck, there is a serious risk of suffocation or strangulation.

“CCPC sweeps have led to the removal of 100 product listings across various platforms. However, we’re asking the public to remain vigilant and contact us if they see car seat head straps like these being advertised, be it online or in physical stores.”

Dr Katharine Harkin, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, HSE Child Health Public Health said:

“Do not place straps across your child’s forehead in a car seat. They claim to prevent your child’s head from falling forwards or sideways if they fall asleep. There is no evidence that these products are safe to use.

“Car seats are designed to keep your child as safe as possible while travelling. The safest approach is always to use a properly fitted, appropriate car seat and do not use any additional products. The HSE’s mychild.ie has more advice for parents on keeping their child safe while driving and other areas of child safety.”

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) does not recommend the use of devices or accessories that are purchased separately from a child’s car seat.

Christine Hegarty, Road Safety and Education Manager at RSA said:

“Child car seats are highly regulated and vigorously tested and are designed to perform and react in a specific way in the event of a collision. Any device that changes that process is dangerous.”

Advice for consumers

  1. Do not use car seat head straps as they are extremely dangerous.
  2. Product add-ons or accessories for car seats should only be used when they have been tested and approved by the car seat manufacturer.
  3. Using any other accessories may change the performance of the car seat or introduce other hazards during normal use.

4 Things Irish Fleets Must Know Before Installing Dashcams

The issue of road safety is more relevant than ever in Ireland. In 2024, there were 174 road fatalities, and the transportation sector was one of those with the highest number of work-related deaths, with RSA research showing HGVs were involved in 11% of all fatal collisions between 2019 and 2023.
In fact, according to a study conducted by Geotab, 95% of professional drivers in Ireland believe that the likelihood of having an accident has increased in the last five years. On top of this, we must add the impact of fraudulent claims – more than half of which are linked to automobiles.
In this context, more and more fleets are turning to onboard cameras, known as dashcams, as a tool to reinforce road safety, streamline claims management, and protect both drivers and fleets. While in other countries dashcams are already commonplace – 30% of U.S. drivers use them – in Ireland their adoption is starting to gain momentum. That is why Geotab, a global leader in connected vehicle and asset management solutions, has compiled the key aspects of their use in Ireland.
Legality in Ireland: requirements
To ensure that vehicle sensors capture different risk situations on the road – from sudden manoeuvres to collisions – cameras must operate with systems that store only images relevant for legitimate purposes. Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) establishes that accident footage may justifiably be retained longer (e.g., for insurance or legal reasons), but routine footage should be deleted regularly.
The solution lies in an event-based recording model, storing short-duration segments that are automatically overwritten. For example, when the system or built-in G-force sensor detects an incident – such as an impact, sudden braking, or a risky manoeuvre – the corresponding file is protected and not deleted.
This way, only the critical information of an accident or hazardous situation is retained, while the rest of the trip is not stored, helping ensure  both the usefulness of the images and compliance with privacy and data protection regulations.
To promote transparency, best practices is for fleet operators to inform their employees about the existence of the recording system through visible signage, identifying the data controller and the rights of those affected, and maintaining up to date compilation of evidence, use cases, retention periods, privacy statements, privacy & security assessments and other documentation. In addition, the camera must be securely installed and must not block the driver’s view or obstruct the vehicle’s windows.
Privacy and third parties
Fleet managers, in their role as data controllers (i.e., those who decide why and how the data is processed), have full control over the management of recorded videos: they can delete them at any time, schedule automatic deletion, or retain them for a period if there is a legal justification. Data should not be shared with any third parties unless required in accordance with the law.
Uses of dashcams
New-generation dashcams have evolved beyond their initial function of only recording incidents to enable faster and less costly accident management. Thanks to the integration of artificial intelligence and advanced driver assistance systems, they can now detect distractions, signs of fatigue, or misuse of mobile phones, issuing immediate alerts to drivers to correct risky behaviours. They can also provide forward collision and lane departure warnings, helping prevent accidents before they occur. Additionally, the analysis of this data can enable more effective training programs, as it helps identify unsafe driving patterns and strengthen road safety proactively.
Data cybersecurity
Managing the data generated by onboard cameras requires applying cybersecurity protocols that guarantee confidentiality and prevent unauthorized access. Common measures include encrypting information both in transit and at rest, using digitally verified software updates, and implementing role-based access controls to limit who can review the records. This can be complemented by regular security audits and compliance with recognised international certifications such as ISO 27001 or SOC
2. All of this helps ensure that the information collected by dashcams is used securely, protecting both drivers and fleets.
“Dashcams are already a key tool in Europe and are beginning to gain traction in Ireland. They can be an important tool for road safety, as they can help prevent incidents by detecting distractions, fatigue, or risky driving behaviours. Should an accident occur, they can also help exonerate the driver or provide more context to the situation,” says Phil Barnes, Business Development Manager for Geotab Ireland. “Their adoption must always go hand in hand with privacy compliance and data protection regulations, ensuring that drivers’ privacy is fully safeguarded”.

Is In-Car Technology The Answer To Being Safer On The Roads? #RSA #Volvo #Motoring

1.3 million people die globally in traffic each year. Last year in Ireland there were *137 fatal collisions resulting in 148 fatalities on Irish roads. Leaders in safety, Volvo Cars, has saved a million lives since it first introduced the 3-point safety belt in 1959, which was invented by Nils Bohlin, a Volvo engineer. Now, Volvo Cars is committed to saving a million more lives and reducing road traffic deaths to zero through technological solutions. 

 

Driver Monitoring Camera  

Volvo Cars is working on new in-car solutions to help address intoxication and distraction in traffic, one of which is a Driver Monitoring Camera, which will be introduced on Volvo’s next generation SPA2 (Scalable Product Architecture)  platform in 2022. The Driver Monitoring Camera, together with other sensors, will allow the car to intervene when a clearly intoxicated or distracted driver risks serious injury or death. This new system will keep track of the driver’s visual behaviour, (eye movements and control, pupil reactions, scanning behaviour), reaction times, and other driving control behaviours to monitor if the driver is engaged in driving. If the system detects a pattern of vision and attention impairment, (e.g. specific eye movements and eye closures), along with other serious loss of driving control, the car will then go through three phases of help. 

 

  • Phase One: The car will first engage safety support systems to shield from consequences and encourage the driver to drive with care through information and warnings. 
  • Phase Two: If there is no improvement for an extended period, the car will then intervene by slowing down and for example contacting Volvo On Call for assistance services, if it detects that the driver’s behaviour will lead to severe dangers. 
  • Phase Three: Lastly, the car will eventually intervene and safely park on the side of the road.

Please see further information below and a very moving campaign video which highlights the importance the safety belt and the fact that ideas that change the world are often the most controversial.

 

Speed Cap

Data from the Road Safety Authority says that 2019 saw an increase in driver fatalities on the previous year, with the majority of fatalities occurring on higher speed roads. And, in a speed survey conducted by the RSA in 2018, *52% of drivers monitored were breaking the speed limit on urban roads, 27% on rural roads, and 23% on motorways. This year, to send a strong signal about the dangers of speeding, Volvo Cars has reduced the top speed of all new cars to 180 km/h, and it is looking at how smart speed control and geofencing technology could automatically limit speeds near schools and hospitals in the future.  

 

Volvo Driver Assistance System  

“It is easy to think that phones and screens are the only scourge of the modern driver, but life as a whole is distracting,” said Malin Ekholm, head of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre. “We know people do not get distracted on purpose, but it happens. You could be late for daycare and somewhat stressed. Or you get behind the wheel after a bad day at work. All this affects you as a driver. The reality is that people want to engage with friends, family, work and entertainment, and everyone responds differently to distraction. So, we want to meet our customers where they are, not where we want them to be. That is why our focus is on using technology in the right way, so we can use it to help you stay safe behind the wheel.” 

 

The Volvo driver assistance system can detect and help avoid a collision with other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. The systems support drivers with audible, visible, and brake pulse warnings when needed, and if a collision is imminent or if the driver should turn into the path of an oncoming vehicle in an intersection, the car can brake automatically. Also, inside the cabin of the new XC40 Recharge (expected in Ireland mid 2021), is an advanced voice control on Volvo Cars’ new Android-powered infotainment system, which allows drivers to control the temperature, set a destination, play their favourite music and podcasts or call their mum on her birthday – all while keeping their hands on the wheel.

“Being able to control key features on your Volvo by voice allows you to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road,” said Malin Ekholm. “Active safety systems such as City Safety, Run-off Road Mitigation and Oncoming Lane Mitigation with steer assist can act as an extra pair of eyes watching over you.” 

Under its new company purpose, Volvo Cars aims to provide customers with the Freedom to Move in a personal, sustainable, and safe way. This purpose is reflected into a number of business ambitions: for example, by the middle of this decade it aims for half of its global sales to be fully electric cars and to establish five million direct consumer relationships. Volvo Cars is also committed to an ongoing reduction of its carbon footprint, with the ambition to be a climate-neutral company by 2040.