03/29/04: LATCH - Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren
LATCH Safety Seat System
The following is from a press release dated Aug 28, 2002.
The new system, LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren), is mandatory for nearly all passenger vehicles and child safety seats* manufactured beginning September 1, 2002.
LATCH is designed to make car seat installation easier. It eliminates the need to use the vehicle's seat belt system, which is a common source of misuse. It uses anchors found between the vehicle's back seat cushions and buckles or hooks on child safety seats. The two parts snap together to secure the child safety seat to the vehicle seat. In addition, all new vehicles have top anchor points that connect to a child safety seat's top tether strap. Together, these components are intended to make safety seat installation easier for parents.
* Belt-positioning booster seats, car beds and vests used to restrain special needs children are not required to be LATCH-equipped.
"Chrysler Group has worked with child seat manufacturers on making LATCH systems easy to use," said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, President and CEO, Chrysler Group. "However, parents must understand that LATCH does not solve all child safety seat installation mistakes.
To best protect their kids, parents should have their child safety seats inspected by a certified technician."
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator, Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge added, "LATCH is an important innovation in child restraint and vehicle design. Used properly, the system is expected to save up to 50 lives a year and prevent close to 3,000 injuries in a crash. This new technology will help us move forward in our quest to further reduce death and injury among our youngest passengers."
According to NHTSA, at least 80 percent of child safety seats are incorrectly installed. LATCH resolves two of the most common safety seat misuses: the safety seat is not tightly fitted into the vehicle seat and the seat belt is not properly locked in place. NHTSA sites the following as some other common mistakes that can cause serious injury or death in the event of a crash:
- Child safety seat harness straps are too loose
- The safety seat is facing the wrong direction in the vehicle
- The child is not the appropriate height, weight and/or age for the safety seat
- The infant seat is in the path of an air bag
- Children who should ride in a booster seat are moved prematurely to an adult seat belt system
- The safety seat has been recalled or has been involved in a crash
The campaign to address both LATCH and the need for seat inspections is part of SeatCheck, a safety program launched in February by Chrysler Group and supporting partners NHTSA, the National Safety Council (NSC), Graco Children's Products Inc., LamazeTM International and new partners Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us. The program urges parents to get their child safety seats inspected and directs parents to seat inspection locations nationwide through a toll-free hotline (1-866-Seat-Check or 1-866-732-8243) and a Web site (www.seatcheck.org).
NHTSA is leading a nationwide effort among automakers, safety seat manufacturers, retailers, and the health and safety communities to raise awareness of the new system. Consumer education materials are available at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
The NSC is actively promoting child passenger safety and LATCH to the public and safety community through its Web site and publications.
It is important to note that child safety seats without LATCH continue to offer children excellent protection provided that they are properly used and installed. These child safety seats can continue to be installed using the vehicle's seat belt system, even in LATCH-equipped vehicles. Child safety seats that have been involved in a crash should be destroyed.
LATCH Frequently Asked Questions
What is LATCH?
LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. It is a system mandated by the federal government in an effort to standardize and simplify the installation of child restraints. Nearly all new vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on and after September 1, 2002 will be equipped with the LATCH system. Cars, minivans, and light trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions. Child safety seats will have tether straps or rigid connectors that hook into these anchors, thereby eliminating the need to secure the safety seat to the vehicle using the vehicle's seat belt system.
What happens if I own a new LATCH-equipped vehicle, do I have to buy a new car seat with LATCH?
No, you can still use the vehicle seat belt system to secure your safety seat to the vehicle, and it is just as safe. However, many child safety seat manufacturers offer LATCH retro-fit kits that can make your current seat LATCH-ready. Contact your child safety seat manufacturer to find out if your seat can be equipped with LATCH connectors.
What if I don't have a vehicle with LATCH?
As of September 1, 2002, child safety seats are required to have both seat belt and LATCH options. All new child safety seats still can be safely and securely buckled into a vehicle using the vehicle's seat belt system.
Is it is still important to have my child seat inspected?
Yes, even with LATCH car seat installation mistakes and misuse can still occur. LATCH resolves two of the most common safety seat errors, but other risks remain. These errors include the following: the child safety seat harness straps are too loose; the child safety seat is facing the wrong direction in the vehicle; the child is not the appropriate height, weight and/or age for the safety seat; the infant seat is in the path of an air bag, children who should ride in a booster seat are moved prematurely to an adult seat belt system; and the safety seat has been recalled or has been involved in a crash. Have your child's safety seat inspected by a trained and certified technician for free, by calling toll-free 1-866-SEAT-CHECK or by logging onto: www.seatcheck.org.
If I have a LATCH-compatible vehicle and car seat, will that ensure my child's safety?
While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that the LATCH system will reduce as much as half the misuse associated with improperly installing a safety seat, it does not eliminate all mistakes. Many other factors contribute to an increased risk of injury if a child is incorrectly secured when involved in a crash. For example: the child is not the appropriate age/weight/height for the safety seat, the car seat harness straps are too loose, or the seat has been recalled or involved in a crash, thus not giving the child adequate protection. It is best to have a trained and certified technician inspect your seat and teach you the proper installation for your vehicle and safety seat. Locate an inspection location convenient to you by calling or logging onto SeatCheck (866-SEAT-CHECK, www.seatcheck.org).
My child uses a booster seat. Will I need the new LATCH system?
No, LATCH is used only for rear-facing and forward-facing child safety seats that must be installed in a vehicle. Booster seats are for children at least 40 lbs. and up to 4'9" tall and help the vehicle's standard lap and shoulder belt fit better. The vehicle's lap and shoulder belt provides restraint when used with a booster seat.
The following is from a press release dated Aug 28, 2002.
The new system, LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren), is mandatory for nearly all passenger vehicles and child safety seats* manufactured beginning September 1, 2002.
LATCH is designed to make car seat installation easier. It eliminates the need to use the vehicle's seat belt system, which is a common source of misuse. It uses anchors found between the vehicle's back seat cushions and buckles or hooks on child safety seats. The two parts snap together to secure the child safety seat to the vehicle seat. In addition, all new vehicles have top anchor points that connect to a child safety seat's top tether strap. Together, these components are intended to make safety seat installation easier for parents.
* Belt-positioning booster seats, car beds and vests used to restrain special needs children are not required to be LATCH-equipped.
"Chrysler Group has worked with child seat manufacturers on making LATCH systems easy to use," said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, President and CEO, Chrysler Group. "However, parents must understand that LATCH does not solve all child safety seat installation mistakes.
To best protect their kids, parents should have their child safety seats inspected by a certified technician."
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator, Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge added, "LATCH is an important innovation in child restraint and vehicle design. Used properly, the system is expected to save up to 50 lives a year and prevent close to 3,000 injuries in a crash. This new technology will help us move forward in our quest to further reduce death and injury among our youngest passengers."
According to NHTSA, at least 80 percent of child safety seats are incorrectly installed. LATCH resolves two of the most common safety seat misuses: the safety seat is not tightly fitted into the vehicle seat and the seat belt is not properly locked in place. NHTSA sites the following as some other common mistakes that can cause serious injury or death in the event of a crash:
- Child safety seat harness straps are too loose
- The safety seat is facing the wrong direction in the vehicle
- The child is not the appropriate height, weight and/or age for the safety seat
- The infant seat is in the path of an air bag
- Children who should ride in a booster seat are moved prematurely to an adult seat belt system
- The safety seat has been recalled or has been involved in a crash
The campaign to address both LATCH and the need for seat inspections is part of SeatCheck, a safety program launched in February by Chrysler Group and supporting partners NHTSA, the National Safety Council (NSC), Graco Children's Products Inc., LamazeTM International and new partners Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us. The program urges parents to get their child safety seats inspected and directs parents to seat inspection locations nationwide through a toll-free hotline (1-866-Seat-Check or 1-866-732-8243) and a Web site (www.seatcheck.org).
NHTSA is leading a nationwide effort among automakers, safety seat manufacturers, retailers, and the health and safety communities to raise awareness of the new system. Consumer education materials are available at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
The NSC is actively promoting child passenger safety and LATCH to the public and safety community through its Web site and publications.
It is important to note that child safety seats without LATCH continue to offer children excellent protection provided that they are properly used and installed. These child safety seats can continue to be installed using the vehicle's seat belt system, even in LATCH-equipped vehicles. Child safety seats that have been involved in a crash should be destroyed.
LATCH Frequently Asked Questions
What is LATCH?
LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. It is a system mandated by the federal government in an effort to standardize and simplify the installation of child restraints. Nearly all new vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on and after September 1, 2002 will be equipped with the LATCH system. Cars, minivans, and light trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions. Child safety seats will have tether straps or rigid connectors that hook into these anchors, thereby eliminating the need to secure the safety seat to the vehicle using the vehicle's seat belt system.
What happens if I own a new LATCH-equipped vehicle, do I have to buy a new car seat with LATCH?
No, you can still use the vehicle seat belt system to secure your safety seat to the vehicle, and it is just as safe. However, many child safety seat manufacturers offer LATCH retro-fit kits that can make your current seat LATCH-ready. Contact your child safety seat manufacturer to find out if your seat can be equipped with LATCH connectors.
What if I don't have a vehicle with LATCH?
As of September 1, 2002, child safety seats are required to have both seat belt and LATCH options. All new child safety seats still can be safely and securely buckled into a vehicle using the vehicle's seat belt system.
Is it is still important to have my child seat inspected?
Yes, even with LATCH car seat installation mistakes and misuse can still occur. LATCH resolves two of the most common safety seat errors, but other risks remain. These errors include the following: the child safety seat harness straps are too loose; the child safety seat is facing the wrong direction in the vehicle; the child is not the appropriate height, weight and/or age for the safety seat; the infant seat is in the path of an air bag, children who should ride in a booster seat are moved prematurely to an adult seat belt system; and the safety seat has been recalled or has been involved in a crash. Have your child's safety seat inspected by a trained and certified technician for free, by calling toll-free 1-866-SEAT-CHECK or by logging onto: www.seatcheck.org.
If I have a LATCH-compatible vehicle and car seat, will that ensure my child's safety?
While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that the LATCH system will reduce as much as half the misuse associated with improperly installing a safety seat, it does not eliminate all mistakes. Many other factors contribute to an increased risk of injury if a child is incorrectly secured when involved in a crash. For example: the child is not the appropriate age/weight/height for the safety seat, the car seat harness straps are too loose, or the seat has been recalled or involved in a crash, thus not giving the child adequate protection. It is best to have a trained and certified technician inspect your seat and teach you the proper installation for your vehicle and safety seat. Locate an inspection location convenient to you by calling or logging onto SeatCheck (866-SEAT-CHECK, www.seatcheck.org).
My child uses a booster seat. Will I need the new LATCH system?
No, LATCH is used only for rear-facing and forward-facing child safety seats that must be installed in a vehicle. Booster seats are for children at least 40 lbs. and up to 4'9" tall and help the vehicle's standard lap and shoulder belt fit better. The vehicle's lap and shoulder belt provides restraint when used with a booster seat.
Posted 03/29/04 |
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