When did cars start requiring tethers?

The requirement for tether anchors in vehicles became standard in 2000. This change was implemented to enhance the safety of child passengers secured in child safety seats. Tether anchors help reduce the forward movement of a child seat during a crash, minimizing the risk of head injuries by providing additional support to the seat as well as helping to keep it more securely in position.

Prior to this requirement, many vehicles did not include tethers, which led to a greater risk of instability in child seats during accidents. The introduction of this regulation has significantly improved child passenger safety as it encourages proper installation and usage of child restraint systems, making tethers a crucial component in ensuring that child safety seats provide adequate protection to young passengers.