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Vehicle Factors Associated with Correct Child Restraint Installation Lifesavers Annual Conference Lake Buena Vista, FL ● June 15, 2012 Jessica Jermakian

Co-authors: K. Klinich, C. Flannagan, A. McCartt, M. Manary, J. Moore, J. Wells

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Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)

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June 11, 2003

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LATCH use

• Observation surveys show 63 percent of child restraints

installed with LATCH in LATCH-equipped seat positions

• Many parents report that LATCH is difficult to use

• Fewer than half of forward-facing restraints installed

with tethers

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April 12, 2012

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Usability of vehicle LATCH systems

• Surveyed characteristics of LATCH hardware and rear seat

geometry in 98 passenger vehicles, all 2010-11 models

• Examined vehicle LATCH features associated with installing

child restraints correctly

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98 study vehicles

Large cars

BMW 528i

Cadillac CTS

Chevrolet Impala Chrysler 300C

Dodge Charger Ford Taurus

Hyundai Azera

Jaguar XFMercedes-Benz E 350

Midsize carsAudi A4 Quattro

BMW 328xi Chevrolet Malibu

Dodge Avenger

Ford Fusion Ford Mustang

Honda Accord LX-SHonda Accord SE

Hyundai Sonata

Lexus ES 350 Mazda 6

Mercedes-Benz C 300 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Nissan Altima

Subaru Legacy Subaru Outback

Toyota Camry Volkswagen Jetta

Volvo S40

Volvo S60

Small carsChevrolet Cruze

Chevrolet HHR

Dodge Caliber Ford Focus

Honda Civic EXHonda Civic LX

Kia Soul

Mazda 3 SMazda 3 S Sport

Mitsubishi Lancer Nissan Sentra

Nissan Versa

Subaru ImprezaSuzuki SX4

Toyota Corolla Toyota Matrix

Toyota Prius

MinicarHonda Fit

Mini Cooper Clubman

MinivansChrysler Town & Country Dodge Grand Caravan

Honda Odyssey

Kia Sedona Toyota Sienna

Volkswagen Routan

Large/extra-large SUVsBuick Enclave

Cadillac Escalade

Chevrolet Suburban Chevrolet Tahoe

GMC Acadia Land Rover Range Rover

Mercedes-Benz GL 450

Porsche Cayenne

Midsize SUVsAcura MDX

Chevrolet Equinox Ford Edge

Ford Explorer

Ford Flex Honda Pilot

Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai Veracruz

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep Liberty Jeep Wrangler

Lexus RX 350 Mazda CX-9

Mercedes-Benz ML 350

Nissan MuranoSubaru Tribeca

Toyota Highlander Toyota Venza

Volvo XC90

Small SUVsFord Escape

Honda CR-V

Kia SportageNissan Rogue

Subaru Forester Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota RAV4

PickupsChevrolet Silverado Crew Cab Chevrolet Silverado Ext. Cab

Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab

Ford F-150 SuperCabFord F-150 SuperCrew

GMC Sierra Crew CabGMC Sierra Ext. Cab

Honda Ridgeline

Toyota Tacoma AccessCabToyota Tundra Double Cab

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Number of seat positions with lower anchors

number

of vehicles

2 82

3 or more 16

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Number of seat positions with tether anchor

number

of vehicles

2 4

3 84

4 or more 10

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Lower anchors in second-row center seat

number

of vehicles

dedicated lower anchors 7

anchors borrowed

from outboard positions 9

none 82

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Confusing hardware 2011 Honda Pilot

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Interference with lower anchors 2010 Chrysler Town & Country

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Rear seat geometry

• Vehicle seat shape

and dimensions

• Location of safety belt,

lower anchors, tether

anchor

• Location and prominence

of head restraint

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Lower anchors

• Markings, coverings, interference

• Collinearity, child restraint fixture installation

• Clearance angle, connector attachment force, depth

within seat bight

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Tether anchors

• Location, routing, markings

• Wrap-around distance

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Installations by 36 parents

• 12 vehicles and 3 child restraints

• Some installations with lower anchors and some with safety belts

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Percent of volunteer installations with...

lower anchors used correctly 60

safety belt used correctly 33

tether used (forward-facing only) 48

tether used correctly (forward-facing only) 22

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Percent of volunteer installations with…

hardware used correctly 33

tight installation 31

correct angle 74

hardware used correctly and tight

installation at correct angle 13

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Lower anchor accessibility Toyota Sienna vs. Dodge Grand Caravan

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Odds of using lower anchors correctly by lower anchor depth, clearance angle, and attachment force

0

2

4

6

8

10

anchor depth less than 2 cm

clearance angle greater than 54°

attachment force less than 40 lbs

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Odds of using lower anchors correctly by number of lower anchor easy-installation criteria met

0

5

10

15

20

zero one two three

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21 vehicles meet all easy-installation criteria

Large cars

Mercedes-Benz E 350

Midsize cars

Audi A4 Quattro

Mercedes-Benz C 300

Mitsubishi Eclipse

Small cars

Dodge Caliber

Mitsubishi Lancer

Minivans

Chrysler Town & Country

Dodge Grand Caravan

Kia Sedona

Large/extra-large SUVs

Cadillac Escalade

Chevrolet Suburban

Chevrolet Tahoe

Land Rover Range Rover

Midsize SUVs

Chevrolet Equinox

Honda Pilot

Small SUVs

Ford Escape

Pickups

Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab

Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab

Ford F-150 SuperCrew

GMC Sierra Crew Cab

Toyota Tacoma Access Cab

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7 vehicles don’t meet any easy-installation criteria

Large cars

Ford Taurus

Chevrolet Impala

Midsize cars

Dodge Avenger

Hyundai Sonata

Minivans

Toyota Sienna

Large/extra-large SUVs

Buick Enclave

Midsize SUVs

Ford Flex

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Child restraint with and without misuse

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