Recommendation is still 13 for front seat riding, right?

carseatcoach · May 11, 2014

Just checking.

(My daughter is 12.2, 5'2" and 115#, and is *well* into puberty. I know she's better off in back, but we just drove 2 hours each way on a road trip, just her and me, and we both would have liked it better if she got to be in front. But she didn't.)

happiness-and-balance · May 11, 2014

Yup, it's 12 and under and you're 12 until you're 13. Not much longer to go!

Qarin · May 11, 2014

happiness-and-balance said:
Yup, it's 12 and under and you're 12 until you're 13. Not much longer to go!

But, that's based on what, exactly?

Dillipop · May 11, 2014

In my car, it's 15 to ride up front. I don't remember where I heard it but I thought I read that up until about 15, they were still safer in back. It's stuck in my head and I'll likely follow it, since I've been spewing it to my kids for years.

ETA- CDC says 12 and under. I swear I read about a study that said to 15... Off to google search.

BookMama · May 11, 2014

carseatcoach said:
Just checking.

(My daughter is 12.2, 5'2" and 115#, and is *well* into puberty. I know she's better off in back, but we just drove 2 hours each way on a road trip, just her and me, and we both would have liked it better if she got to be in front. But she didn't.)

I'd probably let her ride in front in this situation, if she's tall enough for the seatbelt to fit her well, and with the vehicle seat pushed all the way back.

Dillipop said:
In my car, it's 15 to ride up front. I don't remember where I heard it but I thought I read that up until about 15, they were still safer in back. It's stuck in my head and I'll likely follow it, since I've been spewing it to my kids for years.

ETA- CDC says 12 and under. I swear I read about a study that said to 15... Off to google search.

Everyone is safer in the back seat, right?

Personally, I wouldn't want my teen to be relegated to the back seat all the time - he will get his learner's permit at age 15, and I'd like him to be familiar with roads, driving (from observing me/DH driving), the vehicle itself, etc. long before he does so.

ketchupqueen · May 11, 2014

Based on cumulative studies including the most recent, SBS recommends 15 and getting ready to learn to drive before going up front.

Dillipop · May 11, 2014

Found the study I was looking for! Children 15-18 can benefit from the airbag, children 14 and under more likely to be injured by it.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.o...79f45bc768e57003f15c30da&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha

BookMama · May 11, 2014

Dillipop said:
Found the study I was looking for! Children 15-18 can benefit from the airbag, children 14 and under more likely to be injured by it.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.o...79f45bc768e57003f15c30da&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha

But this study was done with date from 1997-2005 (or earlier - the paper was published in 2005). Haven't airbags changed since then? I can't remember when the "second generation" airbags came into play but I want to say it was around 2000.

FYI, I'm not saying that it or you are wrong - just that maybe the data is outdated now.

happiness-and-balance · May 11, 2014

Qarin said:
But, that's based on what, exactly?

This is what I was taught in my technician training, not sure where the recommendation comes from, but I thought OP was just looking for confirmation of the recommendation.

ketchupqueen · May 11, 2014

BookMama said:
But this study was done with date from 1997-2005 (or earlier - the paper was published in 2005). Haven't airbags changed since then? I can't remember when the "second generation" airbags came into play but I want to say it was around 2000.

FYI, I'm not saying that it or you are wrong - just that maybe the data is outdated now.

There is another study that is more recent, I think. I can't look on my phone though.

LISmama810 · May 11, 2014

BookMama said:
But this study was done with date from 1997-2005 (or earlier - the paper was published in 2005). Haven't airbags changed since then? I can't remember when the "second generation" airbags came into play but I want to say it was around 2000. FYI, I'm not saying that it or you are wrong - just that maybe the data is outdated now.

Advanced Airbags started being phased in in 2003 and were required by 2007, IIRC. Before then, there was kind of a "next generation but not technically Advanced Airbag" phase. But yeah, that study would have been primarily dealing with first-generation airbags.

Presuming a child fit properly in the front seat and had reached puberty, I'd be ok with them in the front (presuming the car has newer airbags). Like a PP said, I don't want my kids' first seat experiences to be when they're getting ready to get their permit. I realize that may not be a popular point of view, but it is what it is. (I went off to college when I was 17. I can't imagine having ridden in the front seat for the first time only two years prior.)

CarSafetyGuy · May 12, 2014

carseatcoach said:
Just checking.

(My daughter is 12.2, 5'2" and 115#, and is *well* into puberty. I know she's better off in back, but we just drove 2 hours each way on a road trip, just her and me, and we both would have liked it better if she got to be in front. But she didn't.)

Yup, NHTSA recommends under 13 in the back. Each time I come across a crash that involves a child under 13 in the front seat, I always wonder if the results might have turned out differently had he or she been seated safely in the back. It's impossible to tell for sure, of course, but the thought does run through my mind.

Aurezalia · May 12, 2014

Yeah, I'd have to say I'm with Jennie on this one. CSC's daughter is the same size I am, and with her being well into puberty, it's not like there are significant structural differences either. With advanced airbags, etc - I think 13 is more than reasonable, certainly. (I mean, of course you always take the details of each situation into account and probably delay for very small teenagers, etc - but a large, developed 13yo? It's not something I'd really worry about.)

murphydog77 · May 12, 2014

CarSafetyGuy said:
Yup, NHTSA recommends under 13 in the back. Each time I come across a crash that involves a child under 13 in the front seat, I always wonder if the results might have turned out differently had he or she been seated safely in the back. It's impossible to tell for sure, of course, but the thought does run through my mind.

Do you know if airbag deployment depth is the same in all vehicles?

tiggercat · May 12, 2014

I'm not sure of the different recommendations, but I've recently been letting my 13yo (5'6/120lb) ride in the front. Climbing into the 3rd row is getting difficult for him, and he is running out of head support back there. I think he is plenty big, well into puberty, and sits correctly with the seat well back.

CarSafetyGuy · May 12, 2014

murphydog77 said:
Do you know if airbag deployment depth is the same in all vehicles?

Unfortunately, it does vary from one vehicle to the next, and in some vehicles, will vary with the severity of the crash (as determined by the computer). This is part of why it's recommended to sit as far back from the frontal airbags as possible. Side airbags don't extend as far as frontal bags, so it's not as much of an issue there.

Athena · May 12, 2014

I had always heard 13 and that's what I told my kids. Oops. Should I tell them 15?

Are there any laws on this? I see way too many kids at our elementary school get in the front seat and I cringe every time. Of course, I also see kids under 8 not in car seats and, even when there's an officer present, I've never seen them do a thing about car safety. It's very frustrating.

carseatcoach · May 12, 2014

I drive a 2009 Ford Fusion.

I will let her ride in the front seat before age 15. In our state kids can get learners' permits at age 15 and I want her to be familiar with the view from the front seat before she gets behind the wheel. I'll probably go with age 13 to ride in front.

babyherder · May 12, 2014

I always tell kids later/older than I actually think the minimum might be. That way its easier to change my mind later.

Mommypooh · May 12, 2014

My 11 year old is nearing having to ride in the front of my vehicle. She is the oldest and my youngest is outgrowing his harness that uses the lap belt only, so when that happens he gets he seat in the back and she moves to the front.

I would have let my 12 year old ride in the front in that instance without a second thought.

Recommendation is still 13 for front seat riding, right?

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