LATCH Need-to-Know 2015

LATCH Need-to-Know 2015Denise Donaldson, Safe Ride News

Ophelia Smith, aspiring CPST, age 2

Safe Ride News Publications, 9/2015

2Use Your LATCH Resources

CR instructions and labels

Vehicle owner’s manualCurrent LATCH Manual


3

Our new edition


4LATCH Manual: Use Only the Current Edition!

The 2015 edition is thoroughly revised and includes many updates to older

editions.

Does your kit look like this? YIKES!


5

Section Markings• Chapters marked by

gray tab.• Appendix A-D start at

gray line.• Each tab/line includes

a chapter/appendix indicator.

App. A

App. B

App. C

App. D

Chapters

NEW!


6

The ChaptersChapter 1 — IntroductionChapters 2/3— LATCH/lower anchorageChapters 4/5— Tether anchorageChapter 6 — RetrofittingChapter 7 — Rear-facing tetheringChapter 8 — Background, testing, standards


7

The Chapters: 2/3 and 4/5Chapters 2 and 3—LATCH lower anchorageChapters 4 and 5—Tether anchorage

vs.

Chapter 3/5:• Usage (verbs)

Chapters 2/4:• Parts (nouns)• What’s the same

(regulated) vs. what varies

• Ordered Steps


8

A: CRs With LATCHProduct-specific details on LATCH use

B: Vehicle Information About LATCH Bullets before tables provide brand-wide infoModel details for each vehicle

C: LATCH in Center PositionsNonstandard-width scenariosStandard center LATCH system scenarios

D: Service Bulletins (free TA retrofit), Citations

The Appendices

NEW!


9

?LATCH Seat Belt

• Can I use LA attachments?

• Must I use the seat belt instead?

• Can I use either?• Can I use both?

Core questions:


10Usage Scenario

Say a family arrives for a car seat check with:

• A borrowed Graco Smart Seat, made January 2014

• In a 2010 Honda Accord sedan

• For their only child: • 8 months old• 20 pounds• 27 inches


11LATCH Questions:

Can the LA Attachments be used?

• In what seating positions? • For what weights?

If yes, • How should strap be

routed?• Can both seat belt and LA

attachment be used?

Can the tether be used?• In what positions?• Where are the anchors?• How long can it be used?


12

Page on seating position from 2010 Honda Accord OMHonda OM


13

Page on seating position from Graco Smart Seat owner’s manual

Smart Seat OM


14

Nonstandard-width center position

> 280 mm= Nonstandard

=LATCH use OK

=Check manuals;Both CRM and VM

must say OK!

Can a CR be installed in the center position using these LAs?

280 mm280 mm


15

LM Appendix A ?

LATCH Manual: On nonstandard-width center use

LM Appendix B, bullets


16LATCH Manual:

LM Appendix B, model-specific table entry


17

Details, details!Be sure to check the fine print.

For Graco, it says use is allowed:• At any width• For CRs that

don’t have push-on connectors.

LATCH Manual: On nonstandard-width center use Table C1 in

Appendix C is another LM source.


18

LM Appendix C, Table C2

LATCH Manual: On standard-width center use

NOTE: Honda is NOT present on this list!


19Are there weight

limitations?What are the key pieces of information in this scenario?

• A borrowed Graco Smart Seat, made January 2014

• In a 2010 Honda Accord

• For their only child, age 8 months, 20 pounds, 27 ins.


20LA Attachment limits

before and after February 27, 2014

• Nonregulated• Vary by factors like

CR weight, design and CRM testing

• In instructions, LM• Must compare with

LA limits.

Feb 27

• Regulated by NHTSA

• Vary by CR weight only.

• In instructions, LM, and on label

• Already reflect LA strength.

Before After

20


21

Example of new label, early 2014

LA Attachment limits AFTER February 27, 2014: Appearance

Example of new label, late 2014


22LA Attachment limits AFTER

February 27, 2014: Limit Rounding


23LATCH Manual: On post-2/14

limits Appendix A


24

What’s the vehicle maker’s limit?

Of CRs made BEFORE Feb. 2014

Steps For DeterminingLA Attachment Limits

What is the CR maker’s limit?

Compare the two limits. If they differ, read directions carefully to determine which to use. (Some CRMS allow use of LA limit if HIGHER.)


25

Appendix B

LATCH Manual: On pre-2/14 limits

Appendix A

Another option is Table B1, a summary of all vehicle brands.


26

• IF the VM states the LA limit as “65 pounds minus CR weight.”

AND• IF the CR was made PRE-February 2014

LATCH Manual: On CR Weights

Appendix A, CR weights

Appendix B, Cheat Sheet, page B-3

..


27Let’s Take a Moment

for a Reality Check

CDC Growth Chart


28LATCH Manual:

On using a seat belt AND LA attachments

LM Chapter 3LM Appendix A


29

LATCH Manual: On Converting LA Strap Between RF and FF


30LATCH Manual: On Converting

LA Strap Between RF and FF


31

Page on TA locations and use from 2010 Honda Accord OMHonda OM


32

Appendix B

LATCH Manual: Tether weight limits

Appendix A

…or Table B1Bullets…


33LATCH Manual:



34LATCH Manual:



35LATCH Manual:

Appendix A CR manufacturer statements

Chapter 7 (including this summary table)

On Tethering RF


36

Appendix B

Appendix A

Also, Table

A2!

LATCH Manual: On LATCH With BPBs


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Other Topics:• Whether a seat belt may be used as a tether anchor• Whether AAB suppression system is affected by seatback pressure• Use of head restraints with CRs• Advice to reduce risk of shoulder belt entanglement• Seating position limitations• GM vehicles with dynamic locking latchplates• CRs that allow rear-facing tethering• How tight LA attachments with boosters should be• Whether additional info and photos are available in LATCH Gallery• Listing of free retrofit programs• Listing of most current studies on LATCH• Weights of current CR models• LATCH-use differences if CR is in Canada• LATCH-use differences if CR is used on a school bus• QR codes to access CR instructions and videos• Policy regarding use of inflatable seat belts• Information on how to sign up for LM updates

And much more!


Looking Forward:Reasons for Hope?

38

38

Save the

LATCH!• Regulatory Fixes?

• Market Pressure?


January 2015: NHTSA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking • Proposals based on

years of research and testing.

• Most changes would be to FMVSS 225 (vehicles).

• Some changes also to FMVSS 213 (CRs)

• When finalized, 3 years proposed for deadline to comply.

“Let’s fix what ails you!”

39

39

NHTSA Proposals to Cure LATCH


40

January 2015: NHTSA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking • Proposals to improve

LATCH ease-of-use.• LAs: Tools would be

used to confirm bar clearance, depth, and attachment force. Marking required.

• TAs: Would be required to be metal cross-bars and be marked.

Proposed tools from Docket No. NHTSA-2014-0123

40

NHTSA Proposals to Cure LATCH


41

A special tool is used to measure lower anchor depth within the seat bight as well as the force required to attach a connector to the anchor (left). Another tool measures the anchor's clearance angle (right).

June 2015: IIHS Releases LATCH Ratings for 103 Vehicles


42

Free LATCH Resources at www.saferidenews.com

LM UPDATES

Newsletter articles,

FAQs, and other

resources.

SRN SUPPORT

LATCH GALLERYA place to share photos of

interesting lower and tether

anchor situations.

Check regularly for

updates to the LM. Sign up to be notified of

changes.


43Earn CEUs with the LM

Earn 1 additional CEU for answering an open-book quiz using the current LATCH Manual.

Quiz available at www.saferidenews.com.

Use the 2015 LATCH Manual to answer 10 questions.

Keep it in your folder for recertification credit. Quiz graded only if you are audited.

http://www.saferidenews.com/


44

Thank you!

Presentation by Denise Donaldson, Safe Ride News Publications

Find recent articles, LATCH updates, order forms, and LATCH Gallery at: www.saferidenews.com

E-mail questions/comments to: [email protected] call 800-403-1424.

http://www.saferidenews.com/

LATCH Need-to-Know 2015

Presentations & Public Speaking