Report Shows Child Booster Seats More Effective Than Ever In Crashes

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – According to a new report out Thursday, child booster seats are more effective than ever when it comes to protecting kids in a crash.

Researchers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reviewed 53 of the latest booster seat models. Forty-eight of them got the highest rating called a "best bet."

"Things have improved a lot since we first started evaluating boosters back in 2008," said Jessica Jermakian, a senior research engineer at IIHS. "Back then only a quarter of the seats got the top rating of best bet."

Booster seats are made for kids who have outgrown their car seats, but aren't big enough to use a seat belt on their own.

Only two seats fall in the "not recommended" category: the Cosco Easy Elite and the Cosco Highback 2-In-1 DX. Researchers say the belts fit improperly.

But the manufacturer – Dorel Juvenile – said in a statement they "are built to provide children excellent protection in the event of a crash."