Presenter Profile

Joseph M. Colella, CPST-I

Joseph M. Colella, CPST-I

Director of Child Passenger Safety - JPMA
jcolella@jpma.org
Co-Leader of Safe Kids in Automated Vehicles Alliance - SKW
jcolella@safekids.org
301-466-8140

Joe Colella has been a child passenger safety advocate since 1994, and has worked on occupant protection for children in 48 states and 5 additional countries. He currently serves as a writer, consultant, presenter, instructor, media spokesperson, and more. Joe has been an instructor for the National Standardized CPS Training Program since its inception, is a past chair of the National CPS Board, actively participates on the the SAE Child Restraint Systems Standards Committee, serves on the editorial board of Safe Ride News, co-chairs the CPS Track for Lifesavers, and has many other roles.

Presentations

Safer Car Seats: The Impact of 3 New Regulations

Joseph M. Colella, CPSTI

Part of session:
Workshop Session 2A
Friday, December 6, 2024, 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Description:

Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of injury, hospitalization and death of children in the United States, and correct restraint of all vehicle occupants is the best proven intervention. Car seats are continually improving due to both voluntary improvements from manufacturers and new regulatory requirements, with the objective of enhancing the protection offered by the safety devices and the convenience of using them correctly.

This presentation will highlight three new child restraint regulations and the product changes we are likely to see as a result. This interactive session will familiarize advocates with the new requirements, the reasoning behind some of the specific improvements, and additional regulatory activities we anticipate this year.

References:
FMVSS 213a Final Rule, published June 30, 2022
FMVSS 213 Final Rule, published December 5, 2023
FMVSS 213b Final Rule, published December 5, 2023
Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain)

Objectives:

1. Have functional awareness of three new car seat regulations
2. Understand why highlighted regulatory decisions are appropriate
3. Be prepared for likely changes to current and future products advocates will encounter

The future is upon us: Automated driving keeps families safer

Kristy Brinker Brouwer, MS, CPST
Joseph M. Colella, CPST-I

Part of session:
Child Passenger Safety Group Meeting
Saturday, December 7, 2024, 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Description:

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Automated Driving Systems (ADS) show great promise for reducing motor vehicle injuries and fatalities. Human error contributes to 94% of crashes, while the evolution of driver assistance features and full autonomy have the potential to reduce human error, overall crashes and crash severity. As these technologies are developed and implemented, however, it is crucial that the unique safety needs of children and families are prioritized. The Safe Kids in Advancing Vehicles Alliance (SKAVA) has been formed to facilitate stakeholder discussion, collaboration, and action toward enhancing the safety of children as these technologies evolve, thereby reducing the risk of injury and death. SKAVA has developed a child-focused Design Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (DFMEA) for identifying potential risks introduced in automated mobility. With the current advancement of automated vehicles and autonomous ride-share vehicles arriving in the near future, we will take an engaged deep dive into what a child-focused DFMEA would look like for this emerging technology, as well as, collecting and implementing feedback from the attendees.

Objectives:

1. Examine how the unique needs of children should be considered in Automated and Autonomous Vehicle design, development, and testing.
2. Describe the purpose, methodical approach, and outcomes of a Design Failure Mode & Effects Analysis.
3. Analyze potential risks to child passengers and identify their likely causes in Autonomous Ride-Share Vehicle scenarios.
4. Identify the available tools for educating about, advocating for, and the monitoring progress of child safety in and around Automated Vehicles.