My 3yo loves sitting in the front with me because he can see whats goin on and we can chat. Bit i recently read that its not safe and kids should always go in the back? What do you think?

I don't know how big your 3YO is, but if he's under 4 feet and about 80lb he needs a booster seat anyway I think? Also, how far from the airbag is he?

In Spain all children under 12 are banned from the front seats of cars. Makes sense to me.

My Son has always sat in the front since he was 2.  In an approprate car seat, with the seat as far back as it goes to be away from the airbag.

I'm sure someone will now tell me it's not safe, but it feels pretty safe in a big car.

Isn't it recommended to turn the air bag off?

He is in the reccommended kind of seat. The airbag should only be off if its a rear facing seat if im correct?

He is in the reccommended kind of seat. The airbag should only be off if its a rear facing seat if im correct?

 

That's my understanding too.

But I know people that turn the front airbag off anyway.

 

I think its because on a rear facing once the airbag has deflated it could settle on a childs face sufercating them bacause rear facing the childs usually facing upwards more

No, its more about the blast of the airbag shooting the child seat forwards, potentially snapping the childs neck, damaging the organs and crushing it against the seat back.

 

The issue I can see with airbags and front facing seats is the feet of the child can either be on the dash, or close to it, thus enabling the airbag to launch the child's knees through their face.

my kids sit in the front, although they are older 6 & 8, I always make sure the seat is quite far back, so they are further from the airbag. It's probably safer for them in the back, but they prefer it in the front, and it's nice to be able to chat with them.

 

Laws on child seats seem to be a bit of a mine field, never too sure what they should have, mine have the seats with the back bit, although I wonder in an accident if the child seat is going to fold forward cos it's hinged. In the family car we use the rear headrest to secure the seat.

That's my understanding too.

But I know people that turn the front airbag off anyway.

 

Do you even have an airbag in the Skyline ?

Do you even have an airbag in the Skyline ?

 

Not in this particular car, but that was the photo I had.

Not in this particular car, but that was the photo I had.

 

didnt think the 32 gtr had one

Think the "official response" is that its fine as long as its not a rear facing seat and  if they are in an appropriate seat and the passenger airbag can be switched off, in cars where the passenger airbag can't  be switched off then its not allowed. My 5 year old rides up front in her booster seat with air bag turned off but I won't put my 3 year old with full car seat in front until she's old enough for the booster. 

we do it on longer journeys where it's better to have someone in the back with the young un (now 20 months) to help entertain him, and his big sister (5 going on 15) sits up front in her specific seat, pushed back a bit and with the passenger airbag off.

When SWMBO was on mat leave with the wee guy she would put him in his rear-face seat in the front, (again airbag off) just to keep an eye on him.

I think it's so depressing seeing adults riding in the back while the child rides in the front. My sister operates this setup, and to be honest I've never travelled in her car since she started doing it. If we're going to the park etc with my nephew, I'd rather drive my own car there separately than sit behind a 4 year old.

Just found this...

 

 

The law requires all children travelling in the front or rear seat of any car, van or goods vehicle must use the correct child car seat until they are either 135 cm in height or 12 years old (which ever they reach first). After this they must use an adult seat belt. There are very few exceptions.

 

It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that children under the age of 14 years are restrained correctly in accordance with the law.

I need to check, but im pretty sure over here its children under 12 or the height/weight restriction must be in appropriate booster or travel seats and must be fastened in the rear seats only - not allowed up front at all.

no xoubt commercial vehicles ade an exceptikn but i remember there was a plan a few yrs back to ban the transport of under age/size children in commercial vehicles completely. Dont think it went anywhere though.

My opinion is the rear is safer, airbags or none. They are farther from any frontal impact which is (generally) going to be a higher energy collision than a rear ender.

From about 2.5 until nearly 4, Sam did with the seat back and airbag off.

Then the tantrums began when he was not up front....

From about 2.5 until nearly 4, Sam did with the seat back and airbag off.

Then the tantrums began when he was not up front....

 

And he stayed in the back forever.  The end.

I've only very recently let my 8-year-old sit in the front with me, and only for short 30mph zone journeys. I just can't see the point of taking unnecessary risks with your child's life, no matter how much he wants to sit up front. Although I must admit it is fun having the little man to talk to next to me, and explaining to him all the examples of truly terrible driving we see round our way

I took SWMBO to Cyfarthfa Retail Park in Merthyr Tydfil recently and parked at the back of the car park away from the main rabble.  The car was facing the roundabout at the entrance and I went back to the car before her whilst she trawled through the rails at T K Maxx.  I was watching the traffic entering the car park and was amazed to see two cars enter with a child standing on the front seat with their nose pressed up against the windscreen held by what looked to by grandma in both cases.  One only stayed a short time and it went back with the child still standing on the front seat.

 

You would imagine (and hope) the police would stop anyone carrying a child like that as it is very obvious from just a glance at the car.  In both cases, grandpa and grandma were belted up, but I can't understand how or why they think it's OK to take such a big risk with a small child.

I took SWMBO to Cyfarthfa Retail Park in Merthyr Tydfil recently and parked at the back of the car park away from the main rabble. The car was facing the roundabout at the entrance and I went back to the car before her whilst she trawled through the rails at T K Maxx. I was watching the traffic entering the car park and was amazed to see two cars enter with a child standing on the front seat with their nose pressed up against the windscreen held by what looked to by grandma in both cases. One only stayed a short time and it went back with the child still standing on the front seat.

You would imagine (and hope) the police would stop anyone carrying a child like that as it is very obvious from just a glance at the car. In both cases, grandpa and grandma were belted up, but I can't understand how or why they think it's OK to take such a big risk with a small child.

i watched a woman drive into our nearest retail park one day last summer in a transporter minibus type vehicle. A small girl no more than 5 was leaning out through the gap between the seat and B Pillar chatting to mummy who had the window wound down! One hard brake and she was going out the open window. I nearly got sick but nothing i could do... as members of the travelling community (pc for gypies) i wouldve been battered around the road and my car burnt out had i approached, and the squad woildve never been on scene quick enough nor really be able to do anything either if id repoted it.

Edited 18 April, 201511 yr by mac11irl