Trina, one of the things you said you see daily is kids sitting in the front seat. On my visor, it says that kids under 12 could be seriously injured or killed if sitting in the front seat. Are there other guidelines, because as we all know, kids come in all different sizes. My just turned 12 year old is just over 5'4" tall, and my not yet 11 year old is 5'3". I have a friend whose daughter is 16 and 4'10", and she is taking driving lessons. I know adults who are no taller than that and they drive. I would think that the guidelines on the visor she be more of a height/weight thing than an age thing, no??

By Tarable on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 12:26 pm:

I have been wondering this also. My mom wants to take all of her grandkids places this summer but there is 5 of them and 3 in carseat/boosters, so there is not enough room in her vehicle for all of them if my oldest who is 5'1" can't sit in the front seat. Is this okay? I have been meaning to ask. I do know her airbag automatically turns off if you the person in the front seat is not over 75 lbs.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 01:14 pm:

Dh's jeep has an shut off for the air bag and the shoulder strap adjust down for proper positioning of the belt on the girls who are 10. I do allow them to travel in the front seat in this case. In my Durango they have to ride in the back seat period. The air bag doesn't shut off, but the belt does adjust down.. I don't think the seat slides back far enough for my comfort how ever and it just isn't worth risking them getting injured.

My issue... I am only a little over 5'2. So if the air bag isn't safe for a anyone under 12 years old, then is it safe for me?? Most of my DD's friends 10-12 are taller than I am.... I think all vehicles should come with a shut off for the air bag and instructions on when and how to use it...

Back seat travel isn't always possible.. Pick up trucks for example. My dad has a Dodge Ram full size pick up with a passenger air bag, what then?? He does have the shut off option because it is a newer truck but what if you don't have that option?? I am sure not having a truck and a child could be a suggestion..

I think this whole air bag thing was/is a good idea but just not completely thought through in some vehicles or in certain cenerios... Like the fact that it is very common for women not to be tall enough to safely ride in a vehicle with one in operation. In most cars, I have to be in the furthest position forward and I am under the impression that they are geared towards a male who is 5'6 or taller with the seat in the furthest back postion... Is this correct??

By Trina~moderator on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 01:36 pm:

Marcia, GOOD for you for reading the visor warning! I see elementary school aged kids sitting in the front seat on a daily basis. I counted 10 just the other day. Kids who definitely should not be there. Did their parents not read the warning or are they disregarding it?! Drives me bonkers. The sad thing is if/when I have an opportunity to tactfully point this out, the parents roll their eyes at me, despite the fact they know I'm a certified CPS Tech. Oh well. *My* kids will not be riding in the front seat until they are at least 13 yrs. old and 4'9". Probably longer. There was chat on the CPS listserve amongst the big wigs a few months ago concerning how kids would be safest in the back seat until they are learning how to drive.

The general guideline is 12 and under in the back seat. They try to keep the guidelines simple and easy to remember, but of course, there are a lot of gray areas. If a child still needs a booster seat (less than 4'9" and doesn't pass the 5 Step Test) he\she should not be sitting in the front seat.

Tarable, What vehicle does your mom have? Personally, I wouldn't trust the airbag sensors. They have been known to malfunction. Not a chance I'm willing to take. Besides the fact that even without an airbag kids are significantly safer in the back seat.

By Trina~moderator on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 01:47 pm:

Oops! I got a phone call mid post and it timed out before I posted the image. Here it is!

By Marcia on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 02:31 pm:

I waited until Nicole and Meghan were 12, but as I said, Meg just turned 12 and is taller than my mom, my sister and most of my friends. Kayla is almost 11 and is in the same situation. They are in the back almost always, but there are times when I have too many kids with me, so they get to ride up front. I think they've been big enough for a few years, but we did stick to the rules. It was just so easy to enforce, because they could read what it said, too.

By Tarable on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 02:34 pm:

My mom has a mid size Toyota SUV.. not sure which one. It is a new one. She does fit all the 5 step tests on that link you sent. And you are right I don't totally trust the automatic shut off on the airbags, that is why I am asking. I guess I am with Bobbie asking at what point is it supposed to be safe for an airbag to deploy with a person sitting there? I have a ton of friends and family members who are barely 5'. My dd is 5'1" plus she is going through a growth spurt right now and was measured last in Feb. so she is most likely taller than that now.

I know that my mom could squeeze all 5 kids in the back but she wants everyone to be comfortable because it is a pretty long trip where she wants to take them (about2 hrs) And putting DD between 2 car seats is a little rough and putting one car seat between my dds would be squished too.

Thanks for the help in advance.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 02:35 pm:

Emily just stayed in the back seat, until she was 13! It wasn't anything I ever said. She saw the commercials on TV. My kids like to joke around that one day it isn't safe and the next day it is, even if you didn't grow that much between the last day of being 12 and the first day of being 13.

Sarah was already 12-13, when they started pushing the back seat thing, so it never really pertained to her.

By Kaye on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 04:24 pm:

I think the age is just a guideline, really you know your kids best. You have to keep in mind the reason for the rules, a kid who can't still, can't keep upright and straight in a seat, isn't going to have great protection from the seat belt and or air bag, so why risk it? Certainly there are times it is unavoidable, it is safer for any front facing child to be in the front seat than to be unbuckled with 5 kids in the back seat.

My kids, the older two are 11 and 13, my 11 year old is 15 pounds heavier and the same height as my 13 year old. Sitting down he is actually about 4 inches taller. (they are both over 5 foot now). It was a natural transistion to let them sit in the front. But with long trips I still make them sit in the back, they get restless and start turning around, propping their feet up, etc. So I feel like they are most safe in the back. My youngest though, is a little kid, at age 9, he is still in a booster and will still be for sometime. He would like to not be in one, but he is just too little (besides not being able to sit well). But I know that my middle kid was out of his booster easily by this age, but he also met the height requirement.

My dads car has the sensor, their is a light that indicates if the airbag is on or off. The cut off is at 100 pounds, there was a little bit where my two older kids were both right there in weight, only a couple pounds seperating them, and the light would be on for my dd (no airbag) and off for my son.

By Trina~moderator on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 04:42 pm:

The airbag guidelines also have to do with maturity. An older child (12+) knows not to lean against the dash, etc. which would be dangerous if the airbag deploys. Adults, regardless of size, generally sit properly so it's not so much an issue.

Some vehicles simply aren't kid friendly, such as two seater sports cars and pickup trucks without a passenger cab. If in a pinch, as long as the airbag can be shut off, we tell parents to push the front passenger seat as far back as possible, but this shouldn't be done long term as the usual mode of transportation.


More info:

NHTSA - Questions and Answers Regarding Air Bags

By Pamt on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 05:08 pm:

Marcia, I waited until my oldest son turned 12 and he was just 5' then. However, my 10-y/o has always been very tall and is about 5'1" now so he is always allowed in the front too. The front passenger seat is pushed as far back as it will go and they know that if they lean forward in the front and don't sit with their bottom and back against the back of the seat that they will be banished to the back.

By Marcia on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 09:12 pm:

Same here, Pam. They sit so much better when in the front.