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Original poster

would you put a child in the front seat, with car seat, if you could switch the airbag off?

69 replies

misdee · 14/08/2006 13:13

?

OP posts:
Twinkie1 · 14/08/2006 15:08

Can't believe someone would put a new baby in the front where it is not as safe because they don't feel right not being able to see it!!!

As parents isn't it our job to do as much as we can to keep our kids as safe as we possibly can????

HappyDaddy · 14/08/2006 15:09

Twinkie, if the safety folk say it's ok to put baby in car seat with airbag off, then that's good enough for me.

You do things your way and let others do it theirs.

Norah · 14/08/2006 15:09

We all use our own judgement - like I said we have to assess the risk and make our own decisions.

Twinkie1 · 14/08/2006 15:13

I do do things my own way - the way I have decided is best for my kids after seeing a dead child in the road thanks very much!!! And after having to live with a brain damaged sibling all of my life because she wasn't strapped in properly.

Maybe a parent who wouldn't like not to see their kid whilst they were driving would take a moment to think about what it would be like not to see that child anymore because it has been killed in an accident.

NomDePlume · 14/08/2006 15:14

No I wouldn't unless I had no choice and it was a one-off. Mainly because of a horror story I heard at a post-natal group when DD was about 8 weeks old. The road safety officer from the council came to give a talk on car seats and I asked that very same question. I was told that you can, from a legal perspective it is fine, but she wouldn't advise it. When I asked why, she told the group that she'd heard/seen far too many fatal or very serious accidents where the airbag HAD deployed despite the system showing that the function had been switched off . Put me right off ever trying it out.

HappyDaddy · 14/08/2006 15:15

Twinkie, calm down. We're talking about a baby properly strapped into the proper car seat. Not just lolling around in the front seat.

NomDePlume · 14/08/2006 15:17

Sorry, I meant no to a rear-facing car seat.

My 4yo DD often goes in the front of my car in her high-backed booster seat (no passenger airbag though).

Norah · 14/08/2006 15:21

OK Twinkie - if you're going to get emotional I'll tell you why I wanted my dd in the front with me - where I could see her face !

My sister's baby died - choked on his own vomit in his rear facing car seat in the back of her car - she had no idea - he was asleep, first she knew was when she parked at my mum's and went to get him out.

As I said - we all make our own judgements. My dd is 6 and has survived.

Twinkie1 · 14/08/2006 15:22

This is a really big deal for me and I understand where you are coming from but why have a kid and then not do everything in your power to keep it as safe as possible - its a small chance that something could happen but I couldn't live with myself if it did as I had been the one to make the choice not to do as much as I could for my child.

The 19 month old I saw had been strapped in - the front seat of a car that had been hit by an articulated lorry on the passenger side so shunting it out of the other side and across an A road - the back of the car was not caved in - if it had been in the back it would have been hurt but it's car seat probably wouldn't have been thrown so far out of the car and across oncoming traffic.

tassis · 14/08/2006 15:23

Norah and Twinkie - those are both such sad stories. I'm so sorry.

Norah · 14/08/2006 15:24

You clearly don't understand where I am coming from - I wanted to protect my baby from what happened to my nephew - therefore I chose to have her in the front, for local journeys. On long journeys I sat in the back with her whilst dh drove until she moved to a forward facing seat.

I am getting pissed off now - I made my choice, I am happy with my choice.

HappyDaddy · 14/08/2006 15:26

Twinkie, I appreciate what you're saying. Personally I have dd in her seat behind the driver's seat. All I'm saying is that misdee clearly has her child's safety at heart and is examining the options.

Twinkie1 · 14/08/2006 15:28

Norah I wasn't answering you I hadn't read your post I was answering HappyDaddy so please don't get het up with me.

I am not sure what I would have done being put in your position but from my point of view and seeing that baby that day, not being able to do anything - it was horrific - the mum died instantly too!! - I would never ever put a child in the front seat of a car.

NAB3 · 14/08/2006 15:29

I wouldn't have my child in the front until legally tall enough, and even then I would prefer them in the back as long as possible. We have a Renault Grand Scenic and get three big car seats along the back no problem. We also have 2 more seats in the boot but have no need to use them. It isn't a huge car and one soon gets used to driving it. I have only driven a Fiesta and a Clio before.

beech · 14/08/2006 15:31

I am having my 3rd ds in October and will not be able to fit 2 boosters and a baby seat in the rear of my car, I do not waant to put any of them in the front, if my eldest (who is 8) was tall enough then I could take away his booster but as he isn't then this would be breaking the law, so what am I suppose to do as I cannot afford to change my car?!

madmarchhare · 14/08/2006 15:33

I would if I had to but wouldnt if I had the option.

Norah · 14/08/2006 15:33

Don't think you would be breaking the law if you use a car-seat ! My understanding was that you could not have a child in the front without a seat unless they had reached the height limit - but OK with a child seat. In the back you have to use a seat IF there is one !

beech · 14/08/2006 15:36

No, I think you will find that ALL children under the age of 12yrs or 4ft 2inch have to sit on a booster seat - in the FRONT or BACK of the car.

prettybird · 14/08/2006 15:36

Beech - your ds can sit in the front in the booster, with the seat pushed back as far as it can go.

The issue with airbags is primarily about rear facing car seats.

beech · 14/08/2006 15:37

Sorry not sure what you mean by - IF THERE IS ONE - one what? cars aren't supplied with bosster seats you have to buy one - I think I may have mis-understood you?

Norah · 14/08/2006 15:37

Beech - yes but you said it would be illegal for him to sit in the front with his booster seat -and it isn't.

bluebear · 14/08/2006 15:38

I think you can get 3 car seats across the back of a Citroen Picasso, they aren't MPV's.
We have a Fiat Multipla which has 3 full size seats in the back, but then we sometimes transport 4 children so will use one of the front seats as well, with air bag switched off - hasn't happened yet.
I am only 150cm tall and shouldn't have an active air bag as it is likely to take my head off (!), but don't have any choice when I am driving the cars as you can never switch off the driver's bag..and I can't move my seat back and still reach the pedals.

beech · 14/08/2006 15:39

Yes, I know my child can sit in the front with a booster, I was merely saying that I do NOT want any of them in the front, but what do you do if you do not have enough room in the back for 3 car seats? as some people are saying that it is wrong to put a child in the front- which I do agree with - and I am struggling to know what to do, whether to put my eldest on a booster in the front, or put him in the back without a booster or turn off the air bag and put the baby in the front?

Norah · 14/08/2006 15:40

I think you have misunderstood yes - let me try again !! If you want your child to traevl in the front and they are not 4ft 2inches - then they must sit on a booster seat at least ! To put a smaller child in the front without a booster would indeed be illegal.

If you should need to travel in a car which has no child car seats - then the only option would be for them to travel in the back of the car. For example - grandparents car, taxi-cab etc. But you shoudl try to always provide a seat - but the law accepts that there may be occasions when a seat is unavailable - so the rear of the car may be used without a seat !

prettybird · 14/08/2006 15:40

As of 18 Sptember, children uder 125cm or Age 11 (whichver comes first) must be in a suitable car seat for all journeys. The only exception is emergency one-off journeys.

So "if there is one" no longer comes in to it - you need to go and buy one if you are every likley to be travelling by car.