Who's safest in a side impact crash?

[Unregistered]

Okay, I know I've read that it technically doesn't make a difference which side you put the kiddos, but this is my thinking... I think that the driver's side might be a little safer, because when making a left turn you are crossing oncoming traffic. Of course, it's still possible that someone could run a red light/stop sign, but that seems less likely to me. When making a right turn, you don't have the oncoming traffic to deal with.

Thoughts? I really should register, as I hang out quite a bit. lol

[LuvBug03]

The stats say its 13% to the driver side and 11% to the passenger side, so it is marginal.
They also say to put the on the passenger side so they are safe when unloading onto the curb.

[CPSDarren]

Plus, the statistics vary year to year. Sometimes there's a slight advantage for the driver's side, sometimes the passenger side. For children, any seat in back is very safe if the child restraint is installed and used correctly.

[PJHJ]

The safest place for a child is in the middle. This is due to the fact that there is more room for the vehicle to crumple regardless of the side. However, that being said I would tend to believe that putting the child on drivers side is slightly better but nothing significant. But as noted above, a child should always get out on the passenger side which is more important then the side of the car they sit on while the car is moving.

[skaterbabscpst]

I think getting out on the passenger side is important *IF* you frequently curb park. Where I live, it's 90% parking lots, so it doesn't matter.

[jenny03]

Yeah, I don't curb park either. (OP here) :) I guess I think the way I do because of how the roads are 'set up' around here, and a lot of accidents are because someone is making a left turn, and the other cut them off or was going too fast.

[CPSDarren]

At least one recent study indicated that the advantage of the center may not be as great as previously thought. They discovered that an outboard position gains enough extra safety from a "far side" crash with the added space that nearly balances out the risk from a closer, "near side" crash.

There is also the very small risk of the front seat back collapsing in a severe rear end crash when loaded by an adult passenger. This could crush a child sitting behind that seat. Since the driver seat is always occupied, there would be somewhat less risk being behind the passenger side.

Really, all these minor differences are nothing compared to the important issues of being properly restrained in any rear seat position and having an attentive, unimpaired driver. Those factors alone make such a large effect on safety that other factors are almost like icing on the cake.

Here is another resource from the well respected, former director of the University of Michingan Transportation Research Institute:

http://www.carseat.org/Technical/tech_update.htm#seatpos

[jenny03]

Thanks for the link. :)

[Longhorn Lady]

You know for me, if I have a choice, I like to keep the kid behind the drivers seat, because than I can't turn around and attend to them, and therefore distract myself.

Obviously if it was something life threatening I'd pull right over. But for the normal kid drama in the car, I find that I'm much less distracted when they are directly behind me. Which, for me, makes me a better driver and therefore makes everyone in my car safer :) Of course this only works when I have one kid with me, otherwise someone has to be outboard passenger.

(Certainly nothing scientific ;) but it works for me)