Child seats - In the front?

[Andeh13]

Is there a reason why they can't be fitted to the front of a car, that doesn't have a passenger air bag? Is it just down to the rear being safer then the front? Or is there a different reason?

[Phage]

I was always told that it was a regulation because the public couldn't be relied on to know if there was an airbag or not. So the default was to make it compulsory to put them in the back.

Back seat may also be marginally safer in terms of a longer crumple zone...

[Domestic_Ginger]

I thought you could put it in the front seat if there was no airbag?

I may be wrong.... I can't think of a better reason than what Phage said.

[Andeh13]

Back seat may also be marginally safer in terms of a longer crumple zone...

Thats what I was thinking. But on the flip side of it, with a lot of 3 door cars out there so I would think having a child in the front seat means it would be a lot easier & quicker to get a child out from the front then having to struggle with an awkward sized gap & door?

[Steve A]

as far as i know, you can put them in the front as long as ::

1) No air bag
2) you can turn the airbag off.

But im with the majority that it is "said" to be safer for them to sit in the back, so that is where they will stay.

[Domestic_Ginger]

I have got to say that i prefer them in the back. I feel like a real numpty when the wife has the kid in the front and I'm stuck in the back. How humiliating.

[schmunk]

No ISOFix in the front seat...

[shelley bda]

as far as i know, you can put them in the front as long as ::

1) No air bag
2) you can turn the airbag off.

That is what the law says. I know because I use my car to take children out at work sometimes..... Yes I do use the front seat, I have no passenger airbag, but then we only carry children over 3 in the cars, and the airbag rule only applies to children up to 3, but I think even if my car did have a passenger airbag, i'd want them in the back.

[Zak33]

/\ what she says, with bells on.

Back seat...not the law, but better. No handbrakes or stereo's to fiddle with. Less likely to be hit by your head in a nasty side impact too (humans get flung around a huge amount in a car accident.. your body is dangerous to a little person)

[peterb]

http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/