what is the law on when a kid can sit in the front middle seat?

sugarmom · Mar 30, 2010

we just bought a new chevy siverado 4 full doors seats 6... When we bought it we thought it was ok to sit our oldest age 8 (4'4" and 68 pounds) in the middle of my husband and I. But then someone said she legally was not allowed up there?

I tried looking to see if this is true and all I can find is child has to be in a booster seat until age 5. were in ARIZONA.

we have 6 in our family DH, my self, 8 year old, 7 year old, 4 year old and our surpise 4 month old.

we are driving to disney land in 2 months and need to know if we have to rent a van/ drive two cars or if LEGALLY we can take the truck!

Defrost · Apr 7, 2010

I believe the front center seating position is a lap-only seat belt, yes? That is probably what your friend was referring to - lap-only belts aren't safe for anyone, child or adult, because they provide absolutely no protection for the head and upper body. (They can be safely used with harnessed carseats, however.) I am not aware of any laws specifically prohibiting use for a child, but it's definitely not safe.

You could, however, put your 8yo in the back seat where she would have a lap/shoulder belt, and put your 4yo in a forward-facing harnessed seat in the center position. :thumbsup:

mommycat · Apr 7, 2010

I'm not sure that is correct either, though it might be - check your manual. We have an '04 Silverado extended cab (the smaller doors in the back that open "backwards") and it has a flip up center console/seat. The manual (which is actually for a Sierra but essentially the same truck from what I understand) says on p 1-43:
"Do not use child restraints in the center front seat position. The restraints will not work properly."

I am not sure if your truck is different and allows a carseat to be used there, but I would definitely check your manual to make sure it allows an install there.

mommycat · Apr 7, 2010

As for the rear seat, no, in Arizona it seems there is no rear seat requirement (though some other states do have rear seat requirements or preferences for small kids):
http://www.iihs.org/laws/ChildRestraint.aspx

J-max · Apr 7, 2010

We have a 2009 silverado crew cab, too. I put dd#3 in a radian there often. That leaves a 11, 6, and 2 year old in the back seat. I

the radian install there, seriously the easiest and fastest one I have ever done.

npauli · Apr 7, 2010

Ha! Here I thought I was the only one using a truck for a minivan. Personal record is 7 people - only legal since one wasn't born yet

I just checked my 2002 manual, and for a crew cab:

1) GM says no carseats in the front center (maybe that's changed by now?)
2) They offer a switch to turn off the front passenger airbag for reg and extended cabs, but not crew.
3) For this reason, they say not to put rear facing car seats in front passenger spot, but allow FF carseats if you slide the seat all the way back and have no other options.

If your manual says the same as mine, you could meet GM's rules by:
- doing as you proposed and putting 8 yr old front and center
- put a FF kid in front passenger spot while you sit next to your husband

BUT... Obeying the OEM, being legal, and being safe are not always the same thing.

mommycat · Apr 8, 2010

So does that mean the manual has no rule against it like mine? Is there a diffrerence in the seats because it's a bigger cab?

Pixels · Apr 8, 2010

I checked one of the 2010 model manuals (there's three different manuals, depending if you have the 2500, the 3500, or the hybrid). The manual I checked said not to use a child seat in the front center seat due to risk from the airbag. It also said never to put any child restraint in the front passenger seat unless the airbag was turned off. They were not distinguishing between rear facing and forward facing seats, they just banned all of them.

LISmama810 · Apr 8, 2010

FWIW, you need to abide by the laws of all states you'll drive in--in this case likely just AZ and CA. Your set-up would be legal in CA, though like others have mentioned, I would not have anyone ride in a lap-only belt.

what is the law on when a kid can sit in the front middle seat?

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