| The LATCH System |
|
|
|
|
Page 10 of 12
Can I use the lower anchors to install a car seat in the center position? Why is this even a question? Remember that vehicles must have tether anchors in THREE backseat positions and lower anchors in TWO backseat positions. That usually leaves the center seat as the odd-man out--meaning it has a tether anchor but no lower anchors. A clever person might ask "Can't I just use the two inner lower anchors from the side seats to secure a child safety seat in the center?" This is one of the most common questions we get asked. While it is usually physically possible, it is usually NOT recommended by the vehicle manufacturer and may be unsafe. Why is it unsafe? The distance between the inner-most lower anchors is usually not the standard 11.02 inches found between the lower anchors on the side seats. Many child safety seat manufactuers do NOT want their seats secured to lower anchors that are wider or narrower than the standard 11.02 inches. A wider spacing may allow the child safety seat to move too much side-to-side in a crash. There are certain situations when a child safety seat CAN be safely secured in the center using the lower anchors.
Which child safety seat manufacturers DO allow you to use lower anchors that are spaced wider or narrower than 11 inches apart?
As you can see, the vehicle manufacturer MUST specifically allow you to use a narrower or wider spacing even if the child safety seat manufacturer allows the unusual spacing. Which vehicles allow you to use lower anchors that are narrower or wider than 11 inches? Unfortunately, most vehicles DO NOT allow you to use lower anchors that are spaced wider or narrower than 11 inches. IF YOUR VEHICLE IS MADE BY ONE OF THE MANUFACTURERS LISTED BELOW, YOU CANNOT INSTALL YOUR CHILD SAFETY SEAT USING THE LOWER ANCHORS IN THE CENTER OF THE BACKSEAT. This is true even if your child safety seat is one that allows you to use lower anchors that are wider or narrower than 11 inches.
|
The LATCH System 

