LATCH in a 2001 Honda Accord

[lalcaistor]

I just purchased a Britax Decathalon and would like to use the LATCH feature. My question is, can I use LATCH in the rear _middle_ seat of my 2001 Accord?

The car manual makes it sound like I can only use LATCH on the outboard seats. But I don't understand why the two middle anchors wouldn't work for securing the seat via LATCH in the middle seat. I realize that there is an entire universe of carseat safety technology that is beyond my ken, so there must be a very good reason why this simple idea wouldn't work, right? Thus far I haven't been able to reach a live person at Honda to answer my question.

If I can't use LATCH in the middle, I plan to use the seatbelt to secure the middle seat (rear-facing). Am I right in assuming that using the seatbelt to secure the Britax in the middle seat is safer than going with LATCH in an outboard position?


Any CPS techs out there who are familiar with this make/model of Honda? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Laura

[DebbieJ]

If your car manual does not expressly say that you can use the LATCH anchors in the middle, then you CANNOT. The anchors are too far apart and are not designed to hold crash forces that way.

Install with the seatbelt in the middle or with the LATCH anchors outboard. The safest position is where you can get the best installation.

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
Breastfed for 20 months and 6 days

http://www.bfar.org/members/fora/sty...onths-bfar.jpg

[Joolsplus2]

Honda still hasn't done their testing of LATCH at different pull-angles than 11" apart (Ford and Mazda have, and Britax allows 11-20 inches apart in those cars' centers)... Also the bars may be attached to different cross-beams under the seat, that could pull at different rates, consequences unknown.

Fortunately, it should install fine with the seatbelt in the center, but also, the LATCH anchors are considerably far from the door, which will offer extra side impact protection, if that's the best install you can get.

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx