Arlington, Virginia – The U.S. Institute for Highway Safety announced its support for an NHTSA proposal to retain the requirement that lap belts be lockable to secure child restraints.

In 1999 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) established Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 225 requiring motor vehicle manufacturers to install lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) and child restraint manufacturers to attach components to restraints that clasp the lower rigid LATCH bars. The standard required child restraints to retain the ability to be secured with vehicle seat belts. It also removed from FMVSS 208 the requirement that lap belts be lockable to secure restraints in seating positions equipped with LATCH in vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2012. The NHTSA proposes to remove this sunset provision so that the lockability requirement would continue to apply to new vehicles. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety supports this proposal.