Side facing seats

amelia222 · Jan 15, 2013

Does anyone have any links as to why vehicle seats that face the middle aren't safe? Not just for children, but for adults as well.

I did find this http://www.voea.vic.edu.au/publications/journeys/sideways_seats_brookes.html but is there anything else?

snowbird25ca · Jan 15, 2013

I don't have any links per-se, but the best description I can give is that when you're in a side-facing bench like that, most collisions are going to be the equivalent - so far as direction of movement on the body goes - of a side impact collisions at much higher overall speeds with a movement of the body that could cause significant injuries. Those vehicles also would've been made before there were any standards for passenger protection in the back of vehicles, and usually the space for passengers is so small that if you get 2 people back there, you're looking at body-to-body injury as well from hitting the person you're sitting near.

They're pretty much a recipe for injury... I don't know how manufacturers thought they were a good idea in the first place...

amelia222 · Jan 15, 2013

Thanks. The question came up when I was talking to my DH about why the jump seats in his '07 ford Ranger shouldn't be used. Then it was brought up again by a friend asking if her kids could ride in the side facing seats in her DH's truck (not sure of model or year) that has lap/shoulder belts.

snowbird25ca · Jan 15, 2013

amelia222 said:
Thanks. The question came up when I was talking to my DH about why the jump seats in his '07 ford Ranger shouldn't be used. Then it was brought up again by a friend asking if her kids could ride in the side facing seats in her DH's truck (not sure of model or year) that has lap/shoulder belts.

They still were making trucks in 2007 with those seats? That I didn't realize... Those trucks would've had to meet some sort of standards, but probably just seatbelt fit. Wonder if somebody can dig up a crash test video of the rear passengers in that style of seat? I have some pretty bad images in my head...

LISmama810 · Jan 15, 2013

snowbird25ca said:
Those vehicles also would've been made before there were any standards for passenger protection in the back of vehicles

Are there currently such standards? Other than having to meet various individual standards (flame retardancy, belt webbing strength, etc.), I wasn't aware that there were safety standards for rear passengers. (Apologies if the OP's question and the PP's replies are Canadian-specific or something--right now this is just in a general forum.)

newyorkDOC · Jan 15, 2013

There was a thread a couple of months ago with a Swiss video on side-facing seats. I translated the audio from Italian to English. Maybe search for "Italian" and it'll pop up.

aeormsby · Jan 15, 2013

I just always think of the family who lost their little girl who was buckle into a side facing seat in a limo. It was on Oprah after it happened (several years ago). I won't post what happened since this doesn't have a sensitive warning, but you might be able to find it if you search.

Side facing seats

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