Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Child Restraint Systems; Child Restraint Anchorage Systems

This final rule establishes a new Federal motor vehicle safety standard that requires motor vehicle manufacturers to provide motorists with a new way of installing child restraints. In the future, vehicles will be equipped with child restraint anchorage systems that are standardized and independent of the vehicle seat belts. The new independent system will have two lower anchorages, and one upper anchorage. Each lower anchorage will include a rigid round rod or ``bar'' unto which a hook, a jaw-like buckle or other connector can be snapped. The bars will be located at the intersection of the vehicle seat cushion and seat back. The upper anchorage will be a ring-like object to which the upper tether of a child restraint system can be attached. The new independent anchorage system will be required to be installed at two rear seating positions. In addition, a tether anchorage will be required at a third position. This final rule also amends the child restraint standard to require child restraints to be equipped with means for attaching to the new independent anchorage system. This final rule is being issued because the full effectiveness of child restraint systems is not being realized. The reasons for this include design features affecting the compatibility of child restraints and both vehicle seats and vehicle seat belt systems. By requiring an easy-to-use anchorage system that is independent of the vehicle seat belts, this final rule makes possible more effective child restraint installation and will thereby increase child restraint effectiveness and child safety. Issuance of this rule makes the United States the first country to adopt requirements for a complete universal anchorage system. To the extent consistent with safety, NHTSA has sought to harmonize its rule with requirements being considered by standard bodies and regulatory authorities in Europe and elsewhere. The agency has harmonized with anticipated Economic Commission for Europe and Canadian regulations