How old must a child be to seat in the front seat of a car?

Question

Or what weight?

Answer 1

if your child is over 40 pounds they are allowed to sit in a regular seat  

Answer 2

The age is 12 here in the USA - unless all backseats are occupied by smaller children.  

Answer 3

My mom would always say you cant sit in the front until you turn 13. But i kept growing taller and it didnt matter and so when i went into 5th grade she let me sit in the front. Most parents say you can sit in the front when your 12 or 13 but if their tall and 10 or 11 it would be good for them to sit there. Also if you have one of those cars where the child sits in the seat and theres a signal saying if you get in a car accident the air bag will or will not go off i would say 10. otherwise around 80 pounds would be a preferable weight to sit up front.

Answer 4

whenever...as long as they have their seatbelt on..

Answer 5

12th birthday OR 135cm in height

Answer 6

All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat. Also children weighing less than 85 lb (40 kg) should be in the back seat. This is especially the case if there are airbags in the front seat, as airbags are only designed to protect adults and may injure children; since airbags inflate at high speeds, a child who is improperly seated may be hit by an inflating airbag.

Hope this helps!

~Emily  

Answer 7

they say it's 12, but i was sitting in the front at age 9 or 10, i can't remember, and i'm 15 now

Answer 8

they have to be 12 because the air bags can hurt them if in a accident

Answer 9

12 due to the fact that the airbag could crush them if accident

Answer 10

In Canada it's 12 years old or 90lbs whichever comes first.

Answer 11

80lbs and 4'9...almost 5ft tall

Answer 12

a child must be of that age of 12 to sit at the front seat or weight +60-+75  pounds(depends on state)

Answer 13

It's typically by weight and height. Your neck should be above the dash of the vehicle. The straps should fit properly (NO need for addt'l strap restain)

I believe the weight is 90bs >  or over 12yrs old but your can call your local police Dept  and they will inform you.

Safe is in the back but if you have other kids then that's an issue.

Answer 14

12 or older because a child 11 and under can get hurt by the air bags

Answer 15

You would have to check your local laws because i know that here there is no actual law that says a certain age they just give recommendations for children to be atleast 12 years old before sitting up front but to make a law of it would mean parents with trucks could never have their children with them.  

Answer 16

u have to b 4'7 and at least over 70 lbs.

Answer 17

I think at 8 or 9.

Answer 18

We all know that the roads are a hazardous place for children (and grown ups, for that matter) but how much attention do you pay to what's going on in your car?

In 2004, 24 children aged 0-11 were killed and 372 seriously injured while travelling in a car. The largest group within this were the 0-4's of whom 15 were killed. Another 2,077 were slightly injured in cars, and yet the number of products on the market for in-car safety is mind boggling, as are the strict standards that car seats must meet.

Despite this array of products, a survey conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory in 2004 showed that 5% of 0-4 year olds were not restrained in any way in the rear of cars.

Police Spot Checks

As of 2006, it is now illegal for any child under the age of 12, or less than 135 cm tall, to travel in a car without a booster seat. Since the new laws came into force, Police have been carrying out spot checks on children in cars and if they are not securely fitted following the legal guidelines, the driver can be given an on the spot fixed penalty fine of £30 with a maximum fine of £500.

Where do they carry out these checks? Outside schools. The morning and afternoon school runs are perhaps unsurprisingly the peak times for injury to children in cars. Often parents are parked illegally for a start so the element of rush and 'just get in, will you' creeps in.

For more details of the new laws regarding child car seats, please check out our article on the New Car Seat Laws for 2006

You can protect your children by using a properly fitted, purpose made child car seat which meets the current safety standards and is appropriate for your child's weight and height. Try before you buy and get a trained professional to demonstrate how to fit the seat. Most of the large motoring accessory outlets like Halfords have trained fitters.

When fitting a child car seat in your car, always follow the manufacturer's instructions thoroughly and allow plenty of time; it isn't always a quick process and you will find yourself climbing all over the car, but it is worth it to have a securely fitted seat. The same applies when it comes to strapping your baby or child into the seat - make sure you check the straps and that the seatbelt locks when you give it a jerk.

And remember to make sure your child car seat is properly fitted every time you use it. Seat belts and straps have a habit of loosening when a child has been wriggling around in it for several journeys. Always keep a copy of the fitting instructions in your car.

Answer 19

age dosnt matter, you could be 16, but only 4 ft and weigh 60 pounds, and shouldnt be in the front. it goes by height and weight because of the airbags. There are alot of cars these days in which you can shut the passenger airbags off, or there is a sensor in the seats that will turn the airbag on if the person sitting in it is heavy enough.

If you are able to shut the airbag off...then 12 or so is an apporpriate age.

Answer 20

depends on where you live. i live in Florida. they have to be 12 years old UNLESS you can turn off the airbag (like in most newer pickup trucks) I am not sure if there are any weight restrictions.  

Answer 21

It varies in each state, where I am it's 12 I think.

Answer 22

It is 12 here and the boaster seat you have to wear until 8.