Airbags

In any vehicle, passengers in the rear seat are safer than in the front. Those in the rear are farther from the point of impact in serious head-on crashes.

If your vehicle has a passenger air bag, the rear seat is the ONLY safe place for children. Given what we know today, a child under age 13 and about five feet tall is NOT safe riding in the front seat. Even if your child is correctly buckled up, there is a high risk of serious injury or death when the force of the air bag is unleashed. Because air bags in cars today are designed to fire in very low-speed crashes, the danger is very real if parents and children ignore this warning.

If you have absolutely no way to avoid putting a child in front, the tallest child should be the one selected. Take these steps to reduce the risk. Move the seat as far back as possible. Make sure the child uses the full restraint system and does not lean forward. (NEVER put a rear-facing infant in front!)

Be sure to read the vehicle owner's manual for information about the specific restraints installed in your vehicle. Some trucks have air bag shut-off switches, because there is no back seat for children. Other vehicles with special air bag features may become available soon.

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