[SusanMae]

If seatbelts next to one another were truely a concern...we wouldn't have 3 belts in the back. It may happen...but if it happened on any kind of regular basis---they wouldn't be doing anymore. There would be a public out cry and gov't intervention.

I don't know where you live...but I can get news from both the Wash, DC area and the Balitmore, MD area---and I don't think I've ever heard a story of the carseat with child in it being ejected and the child being fine. And I'm apart of the listserve---haven't ready any of those stories on there either.

Where is that study on the failure rate of LATCH vs Seatbelt? I'd love to read it. Everything that I've been taught as a CPST is that both LATCH and the Seatbelt are equally safe and to use the one that gives you the BEST install. One is NOT safer than the other. I imagine failures come in when people are using either system incorrectly--and well that's not a failure of the system...that's misuse.

I know I've read along the lines that the seatbelt is designed for a nearly 6', 200 pound male. I'm 5'2" and I have a problem with seatbelts fitting me properly in some situations. Unfortunatly they don't make a booster for me.

And an overhead sheild is considered a 5 pt...but the points are in different locations, and you're risking your childs face smacking a hard plastic bar in a crash.

Susan, CPST

	Booster Seat A booster seat raises your child up so that the car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. The lap belt should fall across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should go across the middle of the shoulder and chest. A booster seat is used for older children up to about 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring booster seats for children up to age 8 or 80 pounds. Check your state's law.

	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 without using the vehicle's seat belt system. 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, and a top tether anchor (with the exception of convertibles). Child safety seats will have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors. Most forward-facing child safety seats will also have a top strap (tether) that attaches to the top anchor in the vehicle.