Question Infant car seat in taxi without ALR: safer to use Euro-path OR US-path with locking clip?

U

Unregistered

Guest

• Jul 5, 2015

• #1

I live in Singapore where most taxis don't have ALR seat belts (since child restraints in private vehicles can't legally be installed with the seat belt only). I've been reading other answers to similar questions, but I'm still not 100% sure, so sorry if this is a double-up!

When using a RF infant car seat (without its base) in a taxi with ELR-only seat belts (that can't be tightly locked around the infant car seat), is it safer to:
(a) use the European belt path without locking the seat belt;
(b) use the American belt path and lock the seat belt using a locking clip to hold the lap and shoulder portions of the belt together near the latchplate; or
(c) use the European belt path and place the locking clip only on the shoulder belt part of the seat belt, very close to the latchplate to try and 'get the best of both worlds'?

Thanks for your help!

 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician

• Jul 5, 2015

• #2

Hi! What seat do you have: American or European (or other), and which one specifically?

 

U

Unregistered

Guest

• Jul 5, 2015

• #3

LISmama810 said:

Hi! What seat do you have: American or European (or other), and which one specifically?

Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply! I have a Maxi Cosi (purchased in Singapore) which has a European belt path, but I can install it using the American belt path (only using the guides near baby's feet, and not wrapping the shoulder-belt-part around the back of it).
Posted via Mobile Device

 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician

• Jul 5, 2015

• #4

Maxi Cosi makes seats for the U.S. and European market (and possibly specific ones for other markets, too), and they likely have different rules. European seats are probably fine to use without locking the belt. American seats (even if they allow European routing) often do require locking. Do you know what version of the seat you have?

I'm also going to move this post to our International forum because you might get some better answers there.

 

U

Unregistered

Guest

• Jul 6, 2015

• #5

LISmama810 said:

Maxi Cosi makes seats for the U.S. and European market (and possibly specific ones for other markets, too), and they likely have different rules. European seats are probably fine to use without locking the belt. American seats (even if they allow European routing) often do require locking. Do you know what version of the seat you have?

I'm also going to move this post to our International forum because you might get some better answers there.

Click to expand...

I don't know which version they sell in Singapore, sorry. Thanks for refiling it!
Posted via Mobile Device

 

1mommy

New member

• Jul 6, 2015

• #6

At the risk of sounding snooty (not my intention I promise)... have you read the manual? If the manual allows either of them, I would go for the one you feel you will get the quickest and safest install.

 

U

Unregistered

Guest

• Jul 6, 2015

• #7

1mommy said:

At the risk of sounding snooty (not my intention I promise)... have you read the manual? If the manual allows either of them, I would go for the one you feel you will get the quickest and safest install.

Click to expand...

I've 'read' the manual, but it's 100% pictures. It shows the European belt path, but the last pictorial step is to push the seat belt back into the retractor which makes me think it's showing the instructions for an ALR seat belt. I need to install it in taxis with ELR-only seat belts... Thanks for your help

 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician

• Jul 6, 2015

• #8

Can you check the stickers on the seat to see if they mention the seat meeting federal standards (US) or whatever they have for the EU? Is there a number you can call to reach Maxi Cosi?

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Jul 6, 2015

• #9

Unregistered said:

I've 'read' the manual, but it's 100% pictures. It shows the European belt path, but the last pictorial step is to push the seat belt back into the retractor which makes me think it's showing the instructions for an ALR seat belt. I need to install it in taxis with ELR-only seat belts... Thanks for your help

Click to expand...

If the manual is pictures with minimal/ no text, it sounds like it's European. If it doesn't show a locking clip, and doesn't show American belt path, I wouldn't use either.

Most cars in Europe don't have locking belts.

 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician

• Jul 6, 2015

• #10

Yeah, I wonder if the photo of pushing the belt back into the retractor is just intended to show that you're supposed to get rid of slack, not necessarily lock the belt. That would be consistent with European seats.

 

_juune

New member

• Jul 6, 2015

• #11

The manual sounds like that of a Euro seat. Is there an orange rectangle with some text and R44/04 or R44/03 anywhere on the shell? In that case it's Euro seat and the American belt routing may not be used.

 

newyorkDOC

New member

• Jul 11, 2015

• #12

Also don't the American seat have a chest clip? The EU seats don't.

 

Jérémie Zürcher

New member

• Jul 12, 2015

• #13

hi
look if your carseat serial number begin with 04 if yes it's compatible to the european norm