Seating positions in Mazda 5

EmmasMom

Member
I just got a 2008 Mazda 5, and :love: it so far! But I have a question about where to put my daughter. I usually drive a sedan, so not having a back center seat is new to me.

Where is the safest place for my daughter to be? I have her in the middle row behind the driver. Is she safer behind the passenger seat?

I know it will be asked... she is 4 almost 40lbs, 42" and FF in a Graco Nautilus. :)
 
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unityco

Ambassador - CPS Technician
'Technically', the centre's not the safest position, the safest one is the side opposite from the one you get hit on. ;) Since we can't know what side that will be, we're hedging our bets when we use the centre position.

It's my understanding that the statistics vary from one year to another on which side is impacted more, so neither side is really any better than the other. One consideration though is if you street park. It's better to take your child out on the sidewalk side, rather than the traffic side of the vehicle. :)
 
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EmmasMom

Member
This makes sense.

I remember hearing ...probably 7 years ago... that people subconsciously swerve themselves away from an accident making it safer to be on the drivers side. I don't know how much truth is in that theory now though.

Thank you for the help! :thumbsup:
 

Defrost

Moderator - CPSTI Emeritus
This makes sense.

I remember hearing ...probably 7 years ago... that people subconsciously swerve themselves away from an accident making it safer to be on the drivers side. I don't know how much truth is in that theory now though.

Thank you for the help! :thumbsup:

Statistically that doesn't make any difference, though. Most side-impacts give the driver no time to react at all - they don't even see the car coming at all. And even if they do see it, they don't have time to react to the point of actually turning the vehicle so that one side or the other is presented for impact.

Most people swerve to avoid impact, period, and that will depend on way more factors than just "don't hit my side of the car!"

I would pick whichever side is more convenient for you. :)
 

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