Question re: LATCH for the gurus

[JPS911]

I came across an installation that was intriguing, but it was done a few years ago. Not sure what the latest thinking would be on it.

In the installation, the person took out the rear 3 point seat belt altogether, and in the mounting point for the lap portion of the belt, mounted these:

and then used the LATCH belt from the car seat to clamp onto the above. FYI, the above are designed to provide a hook point for detachable racing harnesses in cars that serve dual street/track service. As such they are race-tested and crash proven at speeds WELL beyond what one would ever see on the street. Their strength is beyond question.

Using the LATCH belts seems to solve the problem of getting the 3 point properly tight, using the little extra clippy thing so the lap and shoulder don't slide, and trying to get the shoulder belt to lock properly. Of course, this would assume that you are using a tether so that the top of the seat is secured well too.

So...the question at hand...what do you think?

	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.

[SusanMae]

The carseat manufacturer has not tested their seat with that system---so they will have ZERO liability should this system fail in a crash.

LATCH anchors are approx 11" apart--not all carseats brands allow their seat to be installed at non standard distances. So again...going against how the seat was crash tested and how they KNOW it will perform.

If I had a seat come into a check with that set up---I'd undo it and attempt to find an acceptable installation in the car. If one could not be found, then we may need to call someone else to to safely transport the child.

Susan

	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.

[JPS911]

Cool, thx. I figured there was something, hence the Q. 11"...I don't recall that specifically, but my guess is it was wider than that. Like I say, saw it from a few years ago, so not even sure he'd do it now if he had to do over...but it was intriguing.

Thanks again,
JPS