Child safety
the front passenger seat > page 254, Child
restraints on the front seat - some impor-
tant things to know.
LATCH system (lower
anchorages and tethers
for children)
Child Restraint System anchors and how
ETc Baa Va Cem eRe CMT Lia]
To provide a simpler and more practicable way to
attach the child restraint on the vehicle seat, Fed-
eral regulations require special lower anchorages
in vehicles and devices on new child restraints 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 LATCH system for
“Lower 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.
Forward-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.
292
Some child restraints may require both the LATCH
lower anchorages as well as the vehicle safety
belt for proper installation. This concurrent use is
allowed as long as it does not interfere with ei-
ther attachment system or the adjoining seating
positions’ vehicle safety belts, if so applicable.
Z\ WARNING
Improper installation of child restraints will
increase the risk of injury and death in a crash.
— 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
designed 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
B8V-0406
Fig. 231 Schematic overview: LATCH anchorage point loca-
tions (example)
The illustration shows the seating locations in
your vehicle which are equipped with the lower
anchorages system.
