Is it safe or safer to

dragonfly8 · Sep 13, 2010

put a RF seat in the very back of a mini van? Or in the center row? Someone asked me this, and while I can't see it being safer than in the middle row, I can honestly say I don't really know!

I think what she's saying to me is that she doesn't have an extended van, so if the kids were RF in the back row and they were rear ended, there would not be alot inbetween them and the back of the vehicle, and she figures the point of impact would be lower than their level.

I am going to *assume* (which of course, we should never do) that middle row or middle captains chairs would be ideal, but maybe in her situation it's just not.

Advice?

LISmama810 · Sep 13, 2010

There was a blog post on this a long time ago, and I believe it showed that in modern vehicles with three rows, the back row was nearly as safe as the center. I have the linke saved on my other computer and can't look for it now, but if you do a search for "third row" or something at carseatblog.com you'll find it.

Without having that to look at, I would say the middle seat of the second row is safest overall. After that, which is safer: middle seat back row, or side seat center row?

Side impacts are the rarest crash, but statistically the most deadly. Rear-end crashes are usually not very severe. But you can't pick your crash, and there are lots of other variables to consider (availability if headsets, side airbags, etc.)

I'm not sure there's a "correct" answer.

QuassEE · Sep 13, 2010

And as always, the optimally restrained child is the safest child--regardless of seating position. I can't tell you how often I've told parents not to stress about putting their children outboard once they have two, or how often I tell parents that, no, centre isn't safest when we're talking putting a child in a lapbelt..

As said--you can't pick your crashes..but you can pick your seats, install them properly, and use them properly.

-Nicole.

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