As parents, we are constantly bombarded with "best practices." From sleep schedules to organic snacks, it can be hard to tell what is a trend and what is truly vital. However, when it comes to car safety, the data is crystal clear. If you want to give your child the best chance of surviving a crash, they need to stay rear-facing for as long as possible—ideally until at least age four or five.
In 2015, the Swedish insurance company Folksam published a landmark study titled "Folksams test av bilbarnstolar 2015" (Folksam’s Test of Child Car Seats 2015). Their findings don't just suggest rear-facing is "better"—they prove it is a biological necessity.
The Physics of Protection: Why Rear-Facing?
The primary reason rear-facing is so much safer lies in the unique anatomy of a young child. According to Folksam’s research, a toddler’s head is disproportionately heavy, accounting for approximately 25% of their total body weight [1]. In contrast, an adult's head makes up only about 6% of their body weight.
When a child is forward-facing in a frontal collision—the most common and severe type of accident—their body is held back by the harness, but their heavy head is flung forward with immense force. Because a child's neck muscles and ligaments are not yet fully developed, this "whiplash" effect can cause the spinal cord to stretch or snap, a catastrophic injury often referred to as "internal decapitation."
The Folksam Difference: Folksam’s 2015 crash tests measured the "neck force" (load) exerted on a three-year-old dummy during a frontal impact. The results were staggering:
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In a forward-facing seat: The neck force measured over 1,700 Newtons (N) in modern, stiffer car structures.
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In a rear-facing seat: The force was consistently under 200 Newtons (N) [1].
Essentially, a rear-facing seat acts as a protective "shield," catching the child's head and back and distributing the crash forces across the entire shell of the seat rather than concentrating them on the fragile neck.
Five Times Safer: The 90-95% Rule
Folksam’s research confirms a statistic that has become the gold standard in Swedish traffic safety: rear-facing children have a 90-95% protection rate against death or serious injury, compared to only 50-60% for children in forward-facing seats [1, 2].
This means a child in a forward-facing seat is five times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than one sitting rear-facing [2].
Why are we turning them so soon?
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Folksam’s 2015 report highlighted a worrying trend: many parents were turning their children forward far too early. The study found that while nearly 100% of infants start rear-facing, the numbers drop significantly as children hit ages two and three [3].
The reasons often cited—lack of legroom or the child "looking cramped"—are addressed directly by Folksam. They argue that a child’s comfort (like bent legs) is a small price to pay for a 500% increase in safety. Their 2015 testing specifically ranked seats based on how long they actually allowed a child to stay rear-facing, pushing manufacturers to design seats that accommodate children up to 4 or 5 years old.
The Takeaway
If there is one thing to take away from the Folksam 2015 study, it is this: The safest car seat is the one that stays rear-facing the longest. In Sweden—the world leader in child car safety—it is standard practice for children to remain rear-facing until age four or five. By following the "Swedish Model" and the evidence provided by Folksam, we can move closer to a "Vision Zero" where no child is lost in a preventable car accident.
Notes and References
[1] Folksam (2015). Folksams test av bilbarnstolar 2015. This report details the crash test results comparing neck forces (1700N vs 200N) and the anatomical differences in children (the 25% head-to-body weight ratio). Source: Folksam Research / Cision Newsroom Archive (Dec 2015).
[2] Stigson, H., & Ydenius, A. (2015). Folksam Safety Rating Program for CRS. This study emphasizes the "five times safer" statistic, noting that rear-facing seats provide a 90-95% injury reduction effect. Source: Folksam Media / Technical Reports.
[3] Axkid & Volvia/If Research (2015/2016). Supporting data mentioned in conjunction with Folksam’s findings regarding the "alarming" trend of turning children forward-facing at age 2 or 3 due to perceived lack of legroom. Source: Swedish National Recommendation for Protecting Children in Cars.