Latch use in center position of rear seat

Does anyone have specific information why would be better to put a rear
facing car seat in the outboard position (next to the window) than the
center position using inside latch anchor points of a car with only
right and left official latch positions. Center position installation
with the car's center seatbelt is problematic since the buckle extends
away from the seat such that it interferes with the child seat's strap
clips.

I did a little research into the issue and all I could determine
regulations require that latch points must be 11" apart to work with
rigid latch connections from certain child seats. Regulations also
require cars have at least two latch positions. Most rear car seats
are not wide enough to fit a child seat in the center and side position
while maintaining enough separation so car manufactures tend to only
provide right and left latch positions.

In my case by using the two center most latch connections (approx 14"
apart) I can securely attach the child seat (strap type latch belts) in
the center position -of course this goes against what the lawyers
say. I am trying to determine why it would be safer to put the car
seat next to the window than use these two points.

Ericka Kammerer...

I had the same question, and wasn't able to find really
good answers. It was very clear that both car seat manufacturers
and automobile manufacturers said that you needed to have
center LATCH anchors if you were going to install a carseat
in the center position using the LATCH attachments. If the
car doesn't have a set of center LATCH attachments, you are
supposed to use the seatbelt for a non-LATCH installation.
So, in most cases you *can* put the carseat there, though
you don't get the ease of the LATCH installation.
I don't know for sure that the center position is
unsafe using one of each of the outboard LATCH anchors,
but given that none of the manufacturers will sanction
their use, my guess is that the system has not been
tested this way, so there's no way to know for sure that
it is safe. The stresses put on the seat and the anchors
would be at different angles in this scenario, so it
is possible that the safety could be compromised.
If I were you, I'd just use the seatbelt to
install the carseat in the center position.

Best wishes,
Ericka