What is safer, backseat driver's side or passenger?

I can't seem to find this information, anywhere...at least nothing conclusive. I know that the middle seat is the safest place for a child/carseat. If you have two children, though and need to use either the backseat driver's side OR the backseat passenger side...which is safer and why?

I would appreciate any information or links.

Thank you,
Abby

Statistically, they are about the same. There is no significant safety advantage (or disadvantage) to either side.

I am not a tech or anything, but I read some studies or something similar that said the driver's side was the safest because you're instincts are to protect yourself in a crash, so the driver would protect the driver's side.

actually the drivers side is said to be about 13% and the passenger 11% so the passenger is slightly better but that is only from that study. Usually we suggest putting them on the passenger side so they will be unloaded safely onto the curb instead of into traffic.
how old are your children and are they ff or rf? what kind of car do you have?
You may not be able to put one center and one outboard depending on your car and seats, they both may need to be outboard(depending).

As I said, statistically they are nearly identical. That is what the NHTSA CPS curriculum states. At first glance, the driver's side may appear safer, because some people think you naturally protect yourself. But unfortunately you can't predict what kind of crash you'll be in. If someone on your left blows thru a stop sign, you may not even see the other car until it hits you.

We do look at lifestyle issues. If you're in a city and will be taking the baby out on the curbside, it makes sense to have the child behind the passenger. If you are mainly parking in large parking lots, it may easier to have the baby on the driver's side. These are parental "tough choices."

One way of thinking to make the statistical info moot is to think of families with more than one child. Then, unless you have a very large car, usually both children will sit on the outboard sides. Parents don't choose which child to put in the *unsafe* side. And the statistics ARE nearly the same.

Obviously, you want to make the most informed and best decision for your child. The statistics are not significantly different, so you may want to rely on how you use the car to make the best decision for your situation.

Good luck!

Thank you for the information. It was very imformative and I appreciate the time you took responding to me.

I am currently pregnant, so I will be having my child RF for quite awhile, but I do transport my nephew quite a bit, which will leave me with this dilemma. I don't live in the city.

I'm surprised that there's no statistically significant difference. I thought this would be a question with a clear answer.

Thanks, again.

IMPE, it is safer for the unharnessed child or the child who is able to "escape" from their belt to be behind the front passenger so that I can keep an eye on him/her easier. If both kids are harnessed & neither can escape, then it doesn't seem to matter except that if only 1 is RF then I like that child behind the front passenger so I can easier soothe him/her.

Yes they are very marginal and I wouldnt choose a side over the other because of a percent or 2. You never know which percentage you will end up being so Id concentrate on the other safety issues like side impact protection, extended harnessing, extended rearfacing, ect.

When I became a 2 kid family I started out with the baby away from my 2nd child (sibling rivalry) both outboard. Then I moved them close together (baby seat center car seat driver side) and the older child could console/confort younger and entertain each other. My friends all prefer the child on passenger side so they can turn and look at them, I prefer driver side and I use the rear view mirror - I alos can reach him easier.

We switch DS back and forth. In the winter, he is on the driver side. We park on the street and can't be guaranteed the snow will be shoveled off the sidewalk, making it impossible to get him out. In the summer, he is on the passenger side so we can get him out on the sidewalk. He should probably be in the center, but I have such a hard time getting him in and out that way. He's way to heavy to lift into the center and has a hard time listening to get into his seat himself that way. I figure in a few months he will have to be outboard anyway when his sibling comes, and he is so safe in his marathon anyway that at this point, it is not really something to worry about. Although, we will have to figure out something by next winter, so I don;t have to haul the infant seat over a car seat to get it out!

When Joyjoy isn't in the center I put her on the driver's side. We don't do much curbside parking, and I'm too lazy to walk around the car.