Can I put car seat in the centre position of the rear seats?
Discussion
My missus is going mental cos in my car (mk4 golf) I've fitted my sprogs car seat in the centre. Of course SWMBO is going on how you don't do that cos then they get thrown through the windscreen 
Obviously I told her that was nonsense but now I need reassurance!
So, it don't make any difference does it?
pic:
Obviously I told her that was nonsense but now I need reassurance!So, it don't make any difference does it?
pic:
If the belt/seat combination can't hold the child in place, it's probably no worse off going through the window than smacking into the back of the front seats. The idea is that neither happens.
If anything the centre seat is probably better, because it keeps the child away from the hard points on the side of the car in the case of a side impact, and from the curtain airbags if it has them.
If anything the centre seat is probably better, because it keeps the child away from the hard points on the side of the car in the case of a side impact, and from the curtain airbags if it has them.
yeah also found this from an american study
yanks said:
Children seated in the center had a 43% lower risk of injury than those in either side position, which researchers say revalidates current child-restraint safety recommendations.
"Although placement in any rear seating position provides excellent protection," write the researchers, "those in the center have the lowest risk of injury."
Researchers say recommendations should continue to encourage families to install child and baby car seats in the center of the rear seat.
same study mentioned on a wiki reference too"Although placement in any rear seating position provides excellent protection," write the researchers, "those in the center have the lowest risk of injury."
Researchers say recommendations should continue to encourage families to install child and baby car seats in the center of the rear seat.
wiki said:
A study of car crash data from 16 U.S states found that children under the age of 3 were 43% less likely to be injured in a car crash if their car seat was fastened in the center of the back seat rather than on one side. Results were based on data from 4,790 car crashes involving children aged 3 and younger between 1998 and 2006. The center position according to data was the safest but least used position by parents
As long as it's correctly fitted then it should be okay. Never used one of those seats though, so I can't really comment. Looks like a full belt there, rather than a lap belt and I'm presuming the child goes within this belt? Or does it have other straps?
If its just a lap belt in the middle then I really wouldn't, but the shoulder belt should hold the back in place properly and safely.
I miss my Recaro leathers from my old Golf now I've seen yours
If its just a lap belt in the middle then I really wouldn't, but the shoulder belt should hold the back in place properly and safely.
I miss my Recaro leathers from my old Golf now I've seen yours
Assuming it's a 3point belt then it'll work.
Based purely in intuition (and reading the above articles) I'd say it would be safer in the middle as it avoids side crushes.
No doubt there will be other reasons why the middle isn't safer – but frankly if you're involved in a hefty car crash there's nowhere in a car especially safe.
Most modern cars have isofix anyway – and as far as a know (but happy to be corrected) most cars only have 2 isofix fittings in the back, on the two sides.
Based purely in intuition (and reading the above articles) I'd say it would be safer in the middle as it avoids side crushes.
No doubt there will be other reasons why the middle isn't safer – but frankly if you're involved in a hefty car crash there's nowhere in a car especially safe.
Most modern cars have isofix anyway – and as far as a know (but happy to be corrected) most cars only have 2 isofix fittings in the back, on the two sides.
miniman said:
If it was dangerous to use the middle seat, Volvo wouldn't have won awards for this:
It is dangerous to put a kid in any seat when a woman is driving, they're always turned around looking at the kid. Or staring at the passenger seat. That picture even shows it in action 
An all to frequent site you see numerous times a day. Your kid won't die because you haven't paid it any attention for 15 minutes, they might die if you crash into the back of a stationary lorry at 70mph on the motorway.
CoolHands said:
My missus is going mental cos in my car (mk4 golf) I've fitted my sprogs car seat in the centre. Of course SWMBO is going on how you don't do that cos then they get thrown through the windscreen Obviously I told her that was nonsense but now I need reassurance!
So, it don't make any difference does it?
pic:
No thats Cool it is fine as long as you have a 3 point harness no worries It is also better because the child is in the middle of the car so any intrusion if any probably wont reach but heh lets hope it doesnt happen. Obviously I told her that was nonsense but now I need reassurance!So, it don't make any difference does it?
pic:
Happy Motoring
R12HCO said:
I think it makes sense. If the kid is going crazy in the back, you havent got to fight over some seats to hit them
EFA.Safest place in our car as kids was behind the drivers seat as out dad couldn't get a good enough angle to give you a proper wack when misbehaving.
(3 boys)
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