What Is the LATCH System?

Before an auto manufacturer can sell a car to the public, the manufacturer is required to test the car repeatedly for safety, performance, and handling. These tests ensure the vehicle meets all regulations for motor vehicles and can keep you and other drivers safe on the roads. One system that sees extensive testing is the LATCH system in vehicles. Below is a description of what the system is, why it’s important, and what it tests.

What Is the LATCH System?

LATCH is an acronym that stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It is a system in motor vehicles that makes attaching child safety seats such as front- and rear-facing car seats easier. This system is separate from a vehicle’s seat belt safety system, which you can also use to help secure your child’s safety seat.

Why Are LATCH Evaluations Important?

LATCH evaluations are important because they help determine the safety of children’s seats in vehicles. Automakers can use them to test their vehicles for optimal safety and then market their vehicles as safe, with data to back up their claims. These evaluations are also important because they can determine how likely a parent is to use the LATCH system in a vehicle. A LATCH system that is both easy to use and remains anchored during a collision is more likely to see use, while one that doesn’t have these attributes is more likely to be ignored by drivers. LATCH evaluations are used to determine the ease of use of the LATCH system in a vehicle. Because the safety of children is important, vehicle safety boards designed a test for the system that gives a rating to motor vehicles.

What Are the Different LATCH Ratings?

In a LATCH evaluation, a vehicle can receive a rating from Good to Poor, detailed below:

Good

A “Good” rating means the LATCH system in the vehicle meets all criteria for the system, which has two parts: the lower anchor and the tether. These criteria include the lower anchor system being no less than 2 centimeters below the seat and being easily visible from the door of the vehicle. They also include the lower anchor system being able to clear 54 degrees to reach the bar on the back of a child safety seat. Finally, the lower anchor system must have an attachment force of fewer than 40 pounds so that you can attach the system easily.

For the tether system, it needs to be on the rear deck or top 85% of a vehicle’s seatback and be free from any other vehicle hardware that some could confuse for tethers. If a vehicle meets all criteria, it gets the highest rating of “Good” because both of its systems do everything they can to keep the child’s safety seat safe. For vehicles with extra tether anchors, they must also meet all requirements to earn a “Good” rating. If the vehicle has a tether router, such as pickup trucks, a router tool must fit through the system.

Acceptable

To earn an “Acceptable” rating, a vehicle must meet most of the ease-of-use criteria. This means that the lower anchor system meets two out of three of the rating criteria, and the tether meets one of the two criteria. If a vehicle has a tether router, then the tether router tool must be able to pass through the system.

Marginal

To earn a “Marginal” rating, a vehicle’s full LATCH positions only meet one lower anchor criteria and one or both tether criteria. A vehicle may also earn a “Marginal” rating if it meets one or two lower anchor criteria and none of the tether criteria. These vehicles may not secure child safety seats enough to ensure the seat stays attached in a collision.

Poor

To earn a “Poor” rating, a vehicle’s full LATCH positions meet no lower anchor criteria and one or both tether criteria. A vehicle may also earn this rating if it meets only one lower anchor criteria and none of the tether criteria. You can still secure a child safety seat with the vehicle’s seat belt system, but in the event of an accident, they may not remain as well attached to the vehicle’s seat as a full LATCH system from a vehicle with a higher rating.

What Data Do LATCH Evaluators Collect?

During a LATCH evaluation, a team of experienced professionals collects a variety of data about the various components of the vehicle. Below are descriptions of each component the evaluators collect:

• Vehicle data: This includes the year, make, model, trim level, and vehicle identification number. This data also includes information about the rear seat material and temperature before the test.
• Vehicle owner’s manual data: This includes instructions for where you can find the LATCH system in the vehicle and how well the manual helps you use the system for a child’s safety seat.
• Seat position data: This includes how many seats there are, what position the seats are in, where the seats are in the vehicle, and whether you can remove the headrests from the seat.
• Lower anchor data: This includes where the dedicated anchors in the vehicle’s back seats are and at what depth they rest in the seat. This data also includes how much force it takes to attach the anchor and the angle the anchor can reach.
• Tether anchor data: This includes where the dedicated tethers in the vehicle’s back seats are and whether there are similar hardware examples near the tethers that could be mistaken for them.
• Photographs: This component includes a picture of the window sticker and the owner’s manual section about the child restraints if a digital version is unavailable. Photographs also include the positions of the rear seats, each tether anchor, and any hardware that someone could confuse for a tether anchor.

Are You Ready To Buy a New Car?

At Classic Toyota of Tyler, we have a team of experienced professionals who can help you learn about our current offers, compare vehicle performances for safety, handling, and mileage, and help you find parts and services for your current vehicle. If you’re interested in accessing our services, you can contact us, or call us at 903-581-0600 today.

Tags: car safety, latch evaluation, safety