front seat vs. 3rd row

[Unregistered]

What are some of your opinions and references regarding putting a child in the front seat of a pick-up truck with the air bag turned off vs. putting them in the 3rd row seat of a SUV 12" or so from the tailgate. From what I've read so far, these third row seats, except for in the largest of SUV's (Suburban) are not safe at all. Would this also mean minivan third rows are not safe.

Thanks,

Mike

[Unregistered]

I'm thinking that it depends on whether or not you have an airbag. From what I read, frontal crashes are more prevelant than rear crashes. My son rides in the third row of our Expedition 50% of the time (when my step son is with us) and I get worried about him being back there but thats my only choice because of the passenger airbag. That really wasnt an answer to your question, I'm actually curious to hear what others have to say.

[Robert]

If you have to use the pick-up then you can use a child seat there provided the air bag is turned off.

I curious as to why you have to place the child in the third row of a SUV?

[CPSDarren]

I would much rather have a child 12 or under in a third row than up front, in almost any situation. That assumes they can be properly restrained there, of course. I also believe it is a bit safer for a child to be in the center of a third row seat than in an outboard seat in the second row. Side impacts are more common and severe than rear impacts, and there is even less crush space for side impacts in most vehicles. In a similar fashion, I would also be more concerned about the differences in crush space for a child seated in the outboard position in the second row to the door than from the third row to the tailgate. Captain's chairs in many minivans often offer extra inches of space from side impacts not given by 2nd row bench seats in many SUVs... Even so, a properly restrained child in the second or third row should be very safe; probably safer than adults in front.

The front seat is always more dangerous, with or without an active airbag. Frontal crashes are the most common and severe, and the proximity to the airbag (if any), dash, A-pillar and any intrusion are potentially very dangerous for young kids. According to the CDC statistics, "All children ages 12 years and younger should ride in the back seat, the safest part of a vehicle in the event of a crash. This is especially important for vehicles with front passenger-side airbags. Riding in the back seat is associated with at least a 30% reduction in the risk of fatal injury in cars without front passenger side airbags. Placing children in the back seat of vehicles with front passenger side airbags reduces this risk by 46%."

Also, please see our page at http://www.suvsafety.info/thirdrow.html .