Rules about air bags in front seat

[topsi]

We have recently bought a smart car and would like our 4 year old to occasionally travel in it. The garage advised us that as long as our son was facing forward in the car this would be OK with the air bag still on.
Other web sites have said that children shouldn't travel with air bags untill they are 12.
We could have a switch fitted but this would cost us £150. The seat can be pushed back along way and the air bag would probably never reach him.
Does any one out there know the absolute definate rules about this??

[LIZS]

Legally it is ok to have an active airbag with a forward facing seatbut safety recommendatiosn are that you should switch it off or move the seat as far backa s possible.

[movingsoon]

My friend had a smart car and in the accessory catalog the car seats switched the airbag off until you got to the high back booster So I moved the seat all the way back and her head was further back than it would of been in the high back booster the seat goes a really long way back. I am very strict on car seat every child that goes in my car must be in one and I alway want my kids to be safe.

[lenats31]

You can leave it on with a forwardfacing car seat. That said, it is recommended that you turn it off and place the child as far back as the front seat will go.