Front Seats

[SUSAN]

At What Age Can A Child Ride In Front Passenger Seat That Does Not Have An Airbag?

[skaterbabscpst]

Recent studies show that a child should not ride in a front seat with or without airbags before age 15 because the risk of death is a crash is significantly higher.

There are situations in which a parent has no choice in the matter and ust put a child in the front seat, but that should be decided on after a thorough attempt to get all children safely restrained in the rear seat.

[melaniev]

Check your vehicle's owner's manual - mine specifically says children under 12 should not ride in the front seat.

[CPSDarren]

The normal guidance is 12 and under should ride in back.

[Unregistered]

What size though? We're not going to make an adult ride in the back because he's below x inches tall and x lbs, but it would be nice to know the recommended lower limits of height/weight recommended for the front seat.




(simplysomething)

[wendytthomas]

I've told Piper she can ride in front when she's as big as me. I'm 5'2" and my driver's seat is as up and as upright as it can be. So at least for my car I'm the tiniest person who could fit there and drive it (in fact I got the 2001 model instead of the 2000 because I fit better in it, but I still need to stretch my left foot occasionally to get the clutch all the way down to start my car).

Wendy

[CPSDarren]

In this case, an age limit was used because it was based on statistics. There is an increased risk of fatal interaction for front seat occupants 12 and under due to proximity to the airbags and/or dash. Perhaps weight and height were not found to be important factors or perhaps they just didn't have that much detail from the reports.

[skaterbabscpst]

how does the age of 12 factor in with the study that was released a few months ago saying even preteens should ride in the back?

[CPSDarren]

This study was an older one, used as the basis for the NHTSA's recommendation of kids 12 and under riding in back. Even adults are probably safer in back. The farther you can get from a frontal impact, the better, so the longer you can keep your kids in back, the better, also.

[skaterbabscpst]

In that case I'll contimue recommending 15. ;)