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LATCH system (Lower
anchorages and tethers
for children)
Child Restraint System anchors and how
are they related to child safety
To provide a simpler and more practicable way to
attach the child restraint on the vehicle seat,
F ederal regulations require special lower ancho
rages in vehicles and devices on new child re
straints to attach to the vehicle anchorages.
In the United States, the combination of the
tether anchorages and the lower anchorages is
now generally called the LA TCH system for
" L ower Anchorages and Tethers for Children". In
Canada, the terms "top tether" with "lower uni
versal anchorages" (or "lower universal anchor
age bars") are used to describe the system.
In other countries the term "ISOFIX" is used to
describe the lower anchorages .
F orward-facing child restraints manufactured af
ter September 1, 1999, are required by U.S. fed
eral regulations to comply with new child head
movement performance requirements. These
new performance requirements make a tether
necessary on most new child seats.
Installing a child restraint that requires a top
tether without one can seriously impair the per
formance of the child restraint and its ability to protect the child in a collision . Installing a child
restraint that requires a top tether without the
top tether may be a violation of state law.
Child restraint manufacturers offer LATCH lower
anchorages on their child seats with hook-on or push-on connectors attached to adjustable
straps.
In addition to the LATCH lower anchorages, these
child restraint systems usually require the use of
tether straps to help keep the child restraint
firmly in place .
A WARNING
Improper installation of child restraints will
increase the r isk of injury and death in a
crash.
Child safety
- Always follow the instructions provided by
the manufacturer of the child restraint you
intend to install in your vehicle.
- Never install a child restraint without a
properly attached top tether strap if the
child restraint manufacturer's instructions
require the top tether strap to be used .
- Improper use of child restraint LATCH lower
anchorage points can lead to injury in a colli
sion . The LATCH lower anchorage points are
des igned to withstand only those loads im
posed by correctly fitted child restraints.
- Never mount two child restraint systems on
one LATCH lower anchorage point.
- Never secure or attach any luggage or other
item to the LATCH lower anchorages.
Location
Fig. 165 Schematic overview: LATCH anchorage poi nt loca
tions
The illust ration shows the seating locations in
your vehicle which are equ ipped with the lower
anchorages system.
171
