Page 97 of 432

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-31
Infants and Young
Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs
protection! This includes infants
and all other children. Neither the
distance traveled nor the age and
size of the traveler changes the
need, for everyone, to use safety
restraints. In fact, the law in every
state in the United States and in
every Canadian province says
children up to some age must be
restrained while in a vehicle.
{WARNING
Children can be seriously injured
or strangled if a shoulder belt is
wrapped around their neck and
the safety belt continues to
tighten. Never leave children
unattended in a vehicle and never
allow children to play with the
safety belts.Airbags plus lap‐shoulder belts offer
protection for adults and older
children, but not for young children
and infants. Neither the vehicle's
safety belt system nor its airbag
system is designed for them.
Every time infants and young
children ride in vehicles, they should
have the protection provided by
appropriate child restraints.
Children who are not restrained
properly can strike other people,
or can be thrown out of the vehicle.
{WARNING
Never hold an infant or a child
while riding in a vehicle. Due to
crash forces, an infant or a child
will become so heavy it is not
possible to hold it during a crash.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
For example, in a crash at only
40 km/h (25 mph), a 5.5 kg (12 lb)
infant will suddenly become a
110 kg (240 lb) force on a person's
arms. An infant should be
secured in an appropriate
restraint.
Page 98 of 432

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
3-32 Seats and Restraints
{WARNING
Children who are up against,
or very close to, any airbag when
it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Never put a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front
seat. Secure a rear-facing child
restraint in a rear seat. It is also
better to secure a forward-facing
child restraint in a rear seat. If you
must secure a forward-facing
child restraint in the right front
seat, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as it
will go.
Q: What are the different types ofadd-on child restraints?
A: Add-on child restraints, which
are purchased by the vehicle
owner, are available in four basic
types. Selection of a particular
restraint should take into
consideration not only the child's
weight, height, and age but also
whether or not the restraint will
be compatible with the motor
vehicle in which it will be used. For most basic types of child
restraints, there are many
different models available.
When purchasing a child
restraint, be sure it is designed
to be used in a motor vehicle.
If it is, the restraint will have a
label saying that it meets federal
motor vehicle safety standards.
The restraint manufacturer's
instructions that come with the
restraint state the weight and
height limitations for a particular
child restraint. In addition, there
are many kinds of restraints
available for children with
special needs.
{WARNING
To reduce the risk of neck and
head injury during a crash,
infants need complete support.
In a crash, if an infant is in a
rear-facing child restraint, the
crash forces can be distributed
(Continued)
Page 99 of 432

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-33
WARNING (Continued)
across the strongest part of an
infant's body, the back and
shoulders. Infants should always
be secured in rear-facing child
restraints.
{WARNING
A young child's hip bones are still
so small that the vehicle's regular
safety belt may not remain low
on the hip bones, as it should.
Instead, it may settle up around
the child's abdomen. In a crash,
the belt would apply force on a
body area that is unprotected by
any bony structure. This alone
could cause serious or fatal
injuries. To reduce the risk of
serious or fatal injuries during a
crash, young children should
always be secured in appropriate
child restraints.
Child Restraint Systems
(A) Rear-Facing Infant Seat
A rear-facing infant seat (A)
provides restraint with the seating
surface against the back of the
infant.
The harness system holds the infant
in place and, in a crash, acts to
keep the infant positioned in the
restraint.
(B) Forward-Facing Child Seat
A forward-facing child seat (B)
provides restraint for the child's
body with the harness.
Page 100 of 432

Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
3-34 Seats and Restraints
(C) Booster Seats
A booster seat (C) is a child
restraint designed to improve the fit
of the vehicle's safety belt system.
A booster seat can also help a child
to see out the window.
Securing an Add-On Child
Restraint in the Vehicle
{WARNING
A child can be seriously injured
or killed in a crash if the child
restraint is not properly secured
in the vehicle. Secure the child
restraint properly in the vehicle
using the vehicle safety belt or
LATCH system, following the
instructions that came with that
child restraint and the instructions
in this manual.
To help reduce the chance of injury,
the child restraint must be secured
in the vehicle. Child restraint
systems must be secured in
vehicle seats by lap belts or the
lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder
belt, or by the LATCH system. See
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) (Z06 and
ZR1 Models Only) on page 3‑36 or
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) (Coupe
and Convertible Models Only) on
page 3‑35. Children can be
endangered in a crash if the child
restraint is not properly secured in
the vehicle.
When securing an add-on child
restraint, refer to the instructions
that come with the restraint which
may be on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both, and to this manual.
The child restraint instructions are
important, so if they are not
available, obtain a replacement
copy from the manufacturer.
Keep in mind that an unsecured
child restraint can move around in a
collision or sudden stop and injure
people in the vehicle. Be sure to
properly secure any child restraint in
the vehicle— even when no child
is in it.
Page 101 of 432

Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-35
In some areas of the United States
and Canada, Certified Child
Passenger Safety Technicians
(CPSTs) are available to inspect
and demonstrate how to correctly
use and install child restraints.
In the U.S., refer to the National
Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) website to
locate the nearest child safety seat
inspection station. For CPST
availability in Canada, check with
Transport Canada or the Provincial
Ministry of Transportation office.
Securing the Child Within the
Child Restraint
{WARNING
A child can be seriously injured
or killed in a crash if the child is
not properly secured in the
child restraint. Secure the child
properly following the instructions
that came with that child restraint.
Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children
(LATCH System)
(Coupe and Convertible
Models Only)
Some child restraints have a
LATCH system. As part of the
LATCH system, your child restraint
may have lower attachments and/or
a top tether. The LATCH system
can help hold the child restraint in
place during driving or in a crash.
Some vehicles have lower and/or
top tether anchors designed to
secure a child restraint with lower
attachments and/or a top tether.
Some child restraints with a top
tether are designed to be used
whether the top tether is anchored
or not. Other child restraints require
that the top tether be anchored.
A national or local law may require
that the top tether be anchored.In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have
a top tether, and that the tether be
attached.
Your vehicle does not have lower
anchors or top tether anchors to
secure a child restraint with the
LATCH system. If a national or
local law requires that your top
tether be anchored, do not use a
child restraint in this vehicle
because a top tether cannot be
properly anchored. You must use
the safety belts to secure your child
restraint in this vehicle, unless a
national or local law requires that
the top tether be anchored. Refer to
the child restraint instructions and
instructions in this manual for
securing a child restraint using the
vehicle's safety belts. See
Securing
Child Restraints on page 3‑40.
Page 102 of 432

Black plate (36,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
3-36 Seats and Restraints
Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) (Z06 and
ZR1 Models Only)
Some child restraints have a
LATCH system. As part of the
LATCH system, your child restraint
may have lower attachments and/or
a top tether. The LATCH system
can help hold the child restraint in
place during driving or in a crash.
Some vehicles have lower and/or
top tether anchors designed to
secure a child restraint with lower
attachments and/or a top tether.
Your vehicle does not have lower
anchors to accommodate lower
attachments. Your vehicle does
have a top tether anchor. If your
child restraint has a top tether, make
sure your child restraint is properlyinstalled using the top tether anchor
and the vehicle's safety belt.
A child restraint must never be
installed using only the top tether
and anchor. Refer to your child
restraint instructions and see
Securing Child Restraints on
page 3‑40
for instructions on
securing your child restraint using
the vehicle's safety belts.
In order to use the top tether
anchors in your vehicle, you need
a child restraint equipped with a
top tether. The child restraint
manufacturer will provide you with
instructions on how to use the
child restraint and its top tether.
The following explains how to attach
a child restraint with the top tether in
your vehicle.
A top tether (A, C) anchors the top
of the child restraint to the vehicle.
A top tether anchor is built into
the vehicle. The top tether
attachment (B) on the child restraint
connects to the top tether anchor in
the vehicle in order to reduce the
forward movement and rotation of
the child restraint during driving or in
a crash.
Your child restraint may have a
single tether (A) or a dual
tether (C). Either will have a single
attachment (B) to secure the top
tether to the anchor.
Page 103 of 432
Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-37
Some top tether-equipped child
restraints are designed for use with
or without the top tether being
attached. Others require the top
tether always to be attached.
In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have
a top tether, and that the tether be
attached. Be sure to read and follow
the instructions for your child
restraint.
According to accident statistics,
children and infants are safer when
properly restrained in a child
restraint system or infant restraint
system secured in a rear seating
position.Top Tether Anchor Locations
i(Top Tether Anchor): Seating
positions with top tether anchors.
To assist you in locating the top
tether anchors, the top tether anchor
symbol is located on the trim cover.
The top tether anchor is located
under the cover behind the
passenger seat.
Page 104 of 432

Black plate (38,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
3-38 Seats and Restraints
Securing a Child Restraint with
a Top Tether
{WARNING
If a LATCH-type child restraint is
not attached to anchors, the child
restraint will not be able to protect
the child correctly. In a crash, the
child could be seriously injured or
killed. Install a LATCH-type
child restraint properly using the
anchors, or use the vehicle safety
belts to secure the restraint,
following the instructions that
came with the child restraint and
the instructions in this manual.
{WARNING
Children can be seriously injured
or strangled if a shoulder belt is
wrapped around their neck and
the safety belt continues to(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
tighten. Buckle any unused safety
belts behind the child restraint
so children cannot reach them.
Pull the shoulder belt all the way
out of the retractor to set the lock,
if the vehicle has one, after the
child restraint has been installed.
Notice: Do not let the LATCH
attachments rub against the
vehicle’ s safety belts. This may
damage these parts. If necessary,
move buckled safety belts to
avoid rubbing the LATCH
attachments.
Do not fold the empty rear seat
with a safety belt buckled.
This could damage the safety belt
or the seat. Unbuckle and return
the safety belt to its stowed
position, before folding the seat. Do not secure a child restraint in a
position without a top tether anchor
if a national or local law requires
that the top tether be attached, or if
the instructions that come with the
child restraint say that the top tether
must be attached.
1. Secure the child restraint
using the vehicle's safety belt.
See Securing Child Restraints
on page 3‑40.
2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether
be attached, attach and tighten
the top tether to the top tether
anchor, if equipped. Refer to the
child restraint instructions and
the following steps:
2.1. Find the top tether anchor.
2.2. Press the ribbed area of the
trim cover to open the cover
and expose the anchor.