Quote:
Originally Posted by rere 
Does anyone know what the recomended height for riding safely in the front seat is.I know it's always safer in the back and I'm finding a lot of age suggestions but what about height?I don't really see how age makes a difference at that point.
Thanks for any help!
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Are you speaking of a child in a booster seat? Car seat? In just vehicle lap/shoulder belt?
It isn't about height. It is about age because age corrolates to physical maturity. Physical maturity enables the body to withstand crash forces better. The older the child, the better. Generally speaking, all children ages 12 years and younger should ride in the back seat (however defer to the safety recommendations of your vehicle which can state 13 years; look on your visor). This eliminates the injury risk of deployed front passenger-side airbags and places children in the safest part of the vehicle in the event of a crash. Overall, for children less than 16 years, riding in the back seat is associated with a 40% reduction in the risk of serious injury. Appropriately restrained children ages 13 to 15 who sit in the front seat are not at increased risk for injury. Remember that your child MUST pass the 5 step test before they can go without a booster seat no matter what seating position they are in. Here is the test for your reference:
http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/630.htm.
Passing this 5 step test ensures that if they are riding in the vehicle seat alone, that they are physically able to be restrained by the vehicle seat belt only (lap and shoulder), and that it fits them correctly so that it can do its job in the event you wreck.
Rear passengers are statistically safer no matter the age.
DC
