For anyone interested, it was referred to as the 1996 lockability standard. I find it common that Techs taught under the old curriculum were made aware of it as instructors had better ability to highlight this section in the curriculum. The new curriculum reorganized the way we introduce seat belt locking. Some instructors I have worked with are not fully award of the FMVSS 208 section that covers this. Additionally, many classes are taught with newer cars, so there is little need to cover the standard. Shorter class timelines, 30 hour tech classes for example, often do not have time to cover it. I have found vehicles as early as 1993 manufacture with switchable retractors (lap/shoulder, lap only ALR which can be confused with switchable was available through most of the 80's in some cars & well past the 90's) and some vehicles were exempted from the standard well into 1997. Like most everything else, LATCH for example, there are exceptions. If the sponsor of the TREAD Act had been aware NHTSA had created and was enacting the standard, we would not likely be suffering through LATCH (another topic for another time). Even with lockability, I still teach locking clip to parents almost every day and use belt shortening clips often, as I have many old cars in my community. -Bill
