Switchable retractors and BPB

[snowbird25ca]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum or not, so I apologize if it's in the wrong place. :o

At our tech training this week we were told to not engage the ALR for kids in a BPB because it would affect how the seatbelt/booster worked in a collision. I know some of the techs here use the ALR with their kids in boosters, so I'm just wondering what the general consensus is.

[cookie123]

I'm pretty sure they told us it was okay to do that in my tech class this week.
I'll have to double check.

[CDNTech]

I remember her saying it's not necessary to engage the ALR, but I don't remember her saying that it would affect the way the booster would perform in a collision. Maybe you had a conversation about this when I was in a different place? :confused:

To be honest, I'm having a hard time seeing how it would affect the performance at all in a collision.

If the ALR is engaged, the child can not be leaning forward out of position when a collision is about to happen and therefore will not have any extra slack to contend with in the event of a collision.

[becca011906]

I use ARL when abby rides in a booster in the truck and dh's cruiser b/c she just doens't sit will yet...

[papooses]

My state coordinator + all vehicle & carseat manufacturer CS reps I've asked said that it's not necessary, but also not a safety issue if it is engaged -- it can be helpful for wiggly kids, but some kids may find it quite uncomfortable ... bonus incentive to use a booster correctly.

[snowbird25ca]

I remember her saying it's not necessary to engage the ALR, but I don't remember her saying that it would affect the way the booster would perform in a collision. Maybe you had a conversation about this when I was in a different place? :confused:

To be honest, I'm having a hard time seeing how it would affect the performance at all in a collision.

If the ALR is engaged, the child can not be leaning forward out of position when a collision is about to happen and therefore will not have any extra slack to contend with in the event of a collision.


I think I must've just misunderstood her. I was thinking about the mechanics too and the more I thought about it the more I figured it didn't make sense that engaging the ALR could cause problems.

And hey, that's why I asked. I wouldn't want to give someone the wrong info. :thumbsup:

[murphydog77]

Yeah, it won't affect how either the seat belt or the booster works in a collision if the retractor is locked pre-crash. In the old NHTSA curriculum (I don't know about the new curriculum--I haven't read that far yet), it was even recommended for wiggly children.

[lovinwaves]

The new Curriculum manual does not say anything about engaging the Switchable Retractor, but my instructor told us that that would be a good idea for a child having a hard time sitting still.

IIRC, my Honda Owner's Manual recommend engaging the ALR for a child in a booster seat. I will have to double check that though.

[Gypsy]

My dd locks her own seatbelt, she doesn't feel safe unless she is locked in tightly.

[crunchierthanthou]

The new curriculum doesn't say anything either way regarding an ALR and BPB. Today at the check we had a family with three kids in boosters and the senior checker/instructor made sure the ALRs had been engaged.

I can't imagine it causing a problem if the booster is being used correctly in all other regards.

[CRS]

Yup my instructor(s) said it wasn't necessary but they never said it would affect performance of the seat/child and honestly I can't picture how it would any way!