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(USGovernment-News.Com, December 31, 2013 ) Charleston, IL – A law affecting the use of the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) child seat system will require child seat manufacturers to tell parents to not use the system if the child and car seat have a combined weight of 65 pounds or more because the strength of the anchors cannot be guaranteed.
Child seats can weigh between 15 and 33 pounds so children 32 pounds and up may not be able to use the LATCH system. The anchor requirements were previously based on old and outdated recommendations.
The LATCH system is considered easier to use for tightly securing a child seat, however, use and awareness is already low. A 2010 study be Safe Kids Worldwide found that child-seat checkpoint technicians were using the lower anchors to attach seats only 30% of the time. Additionally, only about 30% of parents used the top tether straps which can help to prevent head injuries during a car accident.
In order to determine whether or not it is safe for you to use the LATCH system, weigh your child and the seat separately. If the combined weight is over 65 pounds start using the seat belt restraint instead of the LATCH system.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain in a booster seat or child seat until the age of 8. In Illinois state law mandates that children under 8 should be an appropriate children’s or booster seat; failing to follow the law could lead to a $75 fine.
Additionally, parents can ensure the child is safely buckled in by having the child seat installation inspected at a local National Highway Traffic Safety Administration office.
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