Why is it OK for children 13 yrs of age to finally ride in the front seat of a vehicle?  Can they finally withstand an airbags impact?  Are they old enough to be able to behave in the front of the car?

Behavior is a big issue when it comes to safety.  When children are too young they play with the radio, and can’t sit still in the front seat.  This means that they aren’t in the proper position when an airbag deploys.  When it comes to injuries in deaths involved with airbags, the proximity to the front airbag is a big issue, but also the proper positioning.  By age 13, children are more able to remain in the right position.

At ages 11 and 12, kids are also physically bigger.  This is important for riding in the front seat because when children are too small they can’t have their backs properly against the back of the seat if their feet aren’t touching the floor correctly.  This means that they are in a bad position for an airbag to deploy because they are scrunched down.

Kids who aren’t 13 yet should be in the back seat for their well-being.  There is no reason to put your child in the front seat and risk them being injured from the airbag.  Road service calls should not have to be made because of a bad decision such as this.