Car Seat Law Question
Discussion
Now I thought I had researched this but an avon and somerset officer happened to park next to me in tescos. Wasn't traffic and was very nice and polite. However he made comment to my 5 year old sat in front passenger seat and stated that no one under 135cm should be sat in front high back booster or not. He had to wait till his own son grew to 135cm before placing him in the front.
I have checked online and my understanding is if they are over 3 years old they can sit in the front subject to being in a suitable child restraint.
I have checked online and my understanding is if they are over 3 years old they can sit in the front subject to being in a suitable child restraint.
This would tend to suggest that the policeman needs to read up a little:
http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/law/index.htm#kids...
http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/law/index.htm#kids...
As others have said, said officer is talking out of his hindquarters. I've been carting my little one around in the front of the MX5 since she was a few weeks old. You're an idiot if you do so without making sure the airbag is deactivated first, but even that's not actually illegal under motoring law.
AlexKing said:
You are allowed to, and the airbag should be off. That is, unless you really want a blind toddler.
Not convinced, and neither are the AA. http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/child_safety/...Bill said:
Not convinced, and neither are the AA. http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/child_safety/...
I think the AA agree with him. From your link. http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/child_safety/...
ks.Bill said:
AlexKing said:
You are allowed to, and the airbag should be off. That is, unless you really want a blind toddler.
Not convinced, and neither are the AA. http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/child_safety/...Using my common sense-onometer I turn the airbag off when Jnr is in the front. My thinking is if we have a bump and the airbag goes off he's likely to get hit in the face by it, however, if its off he's very unlikely to hit the dash like an adult possibly would due to his size and fact he's harnessed in not inertia seatlbelted in.
Note to drivers of MX5 and other 2-seaters. The concept of "front" and "rear" seats may seem curious to you but it is legally defined under Road Traffic Act 1988 and The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts by Children in Front Seats) Regulations 1993, as amended.
"Front seat" means a seat which is wholly or partially in the front of the vehicle and “rear seat”, in relation to a vehicle, means any seat which is not a front seat." Well that's not very helpful, but read on...
"Every part of the vehicle forward of the transverse vertical plane passing through the rearmost part of the driver’s seat shall be regarded as the front of the vehicle; and accordingly no part of the vehicle to the rear of that plane shall be regarded as being in the front of the vehicle."
OzOs
"Front seat" means a seat which is wholly or partially in the front of the vehicle and “rear seat”, in relation to a vehicle, means any seat which is not a front seat." Well that's not very helpful, but read on...
"Every part of the vehicle forward of the transverse vertical plane passing through the rearmost part of the driver’s seat shall be regarded as the front of the vehicle; and accordingly no part of the vehicle to the rear of that plane shall be regarded as being in the front of the vehicle."
OzOs
roystinho said:
Using my common sense-onometer I turn the airbag off when Jnr is in the front. My thinking is if we have a bump and the airbag goes off he's likely to get hit in the face by it, however, if its off he's very unlikely to hit the dash like an adult possibly would due to his size and fact he's harnessed in not inertia seatlbelted in.
knew someone who worked for britax training people on correct child seat fitting. Britax have tested vehicles with factory fitted deactivation switches for front passenger air bags and they found in a number of cases the air bags still deployed. There advice is if a vehicle has front passenger air bag don not install a rear facing infant carrier as the switches are far from full proof.
TA14 said:
Bill said:
AlexKing said:
You are allowed to, and the airbag should be off. That is, unless you really want a blind toddler.
Not convinced, and neither are the AA. http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/child_safety/...The AA said:
For forward facing child restraints it is acceptable to leave the airbag active and move the car's seat back on its runners as far as it will go. Do check the car handbook for model specific advice though as airbag size and performance does vary.
I agree you need to mitigate the risk by pushing the seat back and making sure they don't lean forwards or lift their legs, but the "blind toddler - won't someone please think of the children" bit is OTT.Small kids travelling on a front seat certainly need sensible protection and airbag deactivation.
But before getting too excited about a small number of people getting injured by airbags its worth remembering that many, many people have been killed by their seatbelts. Including Princess Diana.
But before getting too excited about a small number of people getting injured by airbags its worth remembering that many, many people have been killed by their seatbelts. Including Princess Diana.
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