Is it okay to put a rear facing car seat behind the passenger seat?

Question

I have a 98 durango and would like to put my son's rear facing car seat behind the passenger seat because I am so tall I have to have the drivers seat all the way back and it gets in the way when it is in the middle of the rear seat. Would this be okay? Thanks

Answer 1

Everyone's right so far, but I'd like to add that putting it behind the driver's seat is also bad for exiting at a sidewalk with traffic...

Answer 2

Absolutely!  The center may be slightly safer because it is further from a potential point of impact, but the side is almost as safe- especially for a rearfacing (RF) seat.

My daughter rides in the center of my car, but outboard passenger side in my husband's car because I wasn't satisfied with the center install in his car.

Answer 3

Yes. The safest place is the position where it installs the best. If it installs equally well in all positions, then middle IS safest, however, passenger side is not UNsafe. Its just that middle is safEST. There's always 2 kids in the back of my car, so they have to sit outboard.

Answer 4

As I understand it, the safest place is in the middle (in the back seat) but if it is in your way, probably the second best place would be behind the passenger seat.  

Good luck.

Answer 5

The safest place is in the middle of the rear seat, it has the best crumple zone of the vehicle...........