Before children are ready to sit in the back seat without their booster seat, certain conditions must be met.
This will help prevent children from sustaining serious injuries in the event of sudden braking or a collision, because the bones in the shoulders and hips are those best able to absorb the impact.
Children whose legs are too short will tend to slide under the seat belt to get comfortable. In that position, the seat belt presses against their necks and stomachs, which could lead to serious injuries to the spine or internal organs in the event of an accident.
They should continue to use a booster seat suited to their weight and height, even if they are 145 cm tall or 9 years old. Children who tend to fall asleep and end up with their head resting on the door, for example, fall into this category.
Children aged 12 or younger should always sit in the vehicle's back seat. This is the safest place for them because of their size and the risks associated with their behaviour (moving around in their seat or leaning over to play with the dashboard control buttons, for example), but primarily because of their fragile skeletal system.
Airbags are proven, effective safety devices. However, deployment of the front airbag may result in injuries if a person is sitting too close to it. Children at risk of being in the front airbag’s deployment zone may sustain serious injuries due to their fragile skeletal system.
If you have no choice but to place a child in the front seat, you must do the following two things beforehand:
Last update: July 19, 2023
