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Re-activateTuesdays are band rehearsal day so I drive my kids to school. But I recently noticed that a large number of parents are allowing their elementary-age kids to ride in the front seat. I was amazed at this since studies show that the safest place for your kids is in the rear seat.
Newer vehicles have sophisticated air-bag sensors, which are designed to disable when small children are present in the front passenger. This helps prevent the very serious injury or death that can result from the force of deploying air bags. But these systems may still allow air bag deployment for bigger kids. And even with these systems, children are still safer in the backseat. Comprehensive research from the American Academy of Pediatrics show that children are at a 40 percent greater risk for injury when riding in the front vs. the backseat. Some states have laws that require children to ride in the rear seat but of those that do, most don't mandate it up until the recommended age of 13.
Perhaps once they get a "taste" of sitting up front, kids enjoy the view out. Also, they may think it's just not ‘cool' to be in the back or maybe even like being closer to mom or dad. It could be that by sitting in the front, they have more say about what radio station should be played. Whatever the reason, I don't know how these kids sweet-talk their way to the front. But none of this matters: if parents make the rules based on the safest practice for their kids, they shouldn't give in to their demands about sitting up front. If a rear seat is an available seating position, children should not ride in the front seat until they are 13 years old. No exceptions.
For more on driving with children, see our kids and car safety section.
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