Should Kids be Allowed to Ride Shotgun?

by Amy Hatch (Subscribe to Amy Hatch's posts) Nov 19th 2008 2:01PM

Categories: Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Health & Safety, Playground Bureau, Extreme Childhood

Remember the good old days when your car seat was your dad's arm thrown across your chest when he braked too hard? Nowadays, most states require kids to stay in some kind of booster seat until they're at least 15 years old.

I kid, I kid. Sort of.

Here in the great state of Illinois, children have sit in a booster seat until they are 8 years old, or they can sit in the backseat of a car with lap belts only, IF they weigh 40 pounds or more. This, of course, deprives them of one of life's most uncomplicated joys - riding in the front seat.

Where kids sit in the car is not generally mandated by state laws, but who wants to ride shotgun in a car seat? Technically, you could install your infant car seat in the passenger side, but safety experts strongly advise parents to keep kids in the back, and frankly, that's good advice.

But some say you should never allow your child to ride in front with a driver.

I'm all for child safety, of course, and I would never even consider putting my 3-year-old or my infant in the front seat. But what about when they outgrow the booster seat and can legally sit with me? Some of my best conversations with my parents happened in the front seat of their cars.

What do you think?

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Comments (9)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Karen 11-19-2008 @ 2:21PM

The reason people don't want children in the front seat is safety. The reason it is generally safer for kids to be in the back seat is because of the airbags. Now that they have weight controlled air bags it isn't as big a deal. In fact, in some cars it is safer in the front.

My rule was you could ride in the front at 80 lbs or 12 years old whichever came first (assuming normal height) because that is the weight set on most of the cars that automatically turn air bags on and off.

I've made some exceptions.

But I've had some great conversations with my kids with them in the back seat as well.

Safety first, within reason. You evaluate risks in life and then make your call.

Melissa 11-19-2008 @ 4:10PM

I think it's because all the new cars have passenger air bags and that can, like, decapitate a child (hey that's what I read ok lol)....I read on my visor not to put them in the front until age 12, so I don't know anymore!

Jenni 11-19-2008 @ 4:04PM

I believe in some states it's actual the law that they ride in the back until age 12. Mainly because of the airbags, the safety factor is to put them in the back.

I do remember sitting in the front seat with my parents (fighting over "shotgun" with my siblings. I also remember riding on the "hump" in the front with mom's arm as my seat belt.

I always thought it was funny that her arm would jet straight out in front of my when she had to break fast; did she really think her arm was going to save that much? Although, even with no child in the front seat, I find myself doing it; must be in the genes.

I think it's a shame that children don't ride in the front anymore. When I had my small pickup truck, my goddaughters LOVED driving with me because they could see out the front window.

ninainindia 11-19-2008 @ 8:20PM

As a a child I mostly was in the backseat but without a booster or a safety belt (our car didn's have those in the back!). I would sit in the middle and scoot to the front of the bench so I was in between my parents almost. I remember many good times that way.

SKL 11-19-2008 @ 9:38PM

As the 3rd of 6 kids, riding in the front seat with Dad was indeed a rare and special treat. (Mom hardly ever drove anywhere except to work.) Well, my kids will survive a childhood without those moments. In my state, I believe it's the law that kids under age 10 have to ride in the back. Luckily, my kids have each other to aggravate, so they'll probably stay in the back even longer, so I don't have endless arguments over whose turn it is to sit in the front.

Sandyone 11-20-2008 @ 7:05AM

it's a few yrs off for you, but my aunt's kids each get the front for a month. easy to keep track of. in my family, it was the oldest got it. that stunk for this 5th born.

rwx 11-20-2008 @ 12:50AM

I have a small pickup. There is no back seat. My 5-year-old loves it, but it does make me a bit nervous.

marinda 11-20-2008 @ 1:56PM

It seems to me that the kids are alot bigger now than they were when I was young. When my 10 year old niece was as tall as me and looked like a teenager. It seemed silly for me to let her sit in the back. Where did people put their babies in the car when there were no car seats ???

M 12-21-2008 @ 1:25PM

I'm 13 and my mom started letting me ride in the front seat when i was 8. The rule was just that i had to have my seatbelt on at all times.

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