Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Front Seat Access

OK, is it me or does it seem like there are more children riding in the front seats of cars these days? I just got in from running, ahem, jogging, and saw a child that couldn’t have been more than 8 years old ride by in the front passenger seat of a car. And, yesterday when I picked the kids up from school, a little boy hopped in the front passenger side, too, and he didn’t look a day over 9. I even saw a little girl who looked like she might be 6, if that, slip into the front.

What’s with all of the front seat access? Did I miss some recall or change in the law that states kids are now safe in the front and that the airbags won’t kill them anymore? I’m not passing judgment, really, I’m not, I just hate to see kids put in dangerous situations, especially when they don’t have to be. All the cars had huge, empty back seats. Really they did, I looked.

I also looked at this…

The front flip sun visor in my SUV.

Is it just me? I’m not a neurotic, strict-rule abiding parent by any means, but come on…who really wants the little jokers (and all of their toys) in the front seat with them anyway?

Winks & Smiles,
Wifey

7 comments:

kaybee said...

no, you are not crazy. there is a little boy who is 6 @ my son's school who regularly rides in the front. he weighs no more than 40lbs. no booster or nothin'! apparently his mother said the airbag doesn't deploy when there is less than 60lbs. in the front seat. do you really want to test that theory??? people are crazy wifey. we are the rational ones.... my kids will be in the back till high school!!!! and my 9yr. old still rides in a booster!

Lu said...

nope...you are not crazy. more and more kids are riding in the front seat. Luckily, they are not doing that in my house!

Mozi Esme said...

What a refreshing viewpoint!

Here in Mozambique you see babies on motorcycles, and seat belts are a fashion accessory if anything, let alone car seats and keeping kids in the back seat. And the roads here are TERRIBLE. I guess the viewpoint is that babies are more likely to die from malaria or AIDS etc than in a car accident.

I can understand that if sitting in the back or in a car seat is not an option, but that is NOT the case much of the time.

Unknown said...

Thanks, ladies, for letting me know I'm not crazy.

And Moziesme, what a great perspective you bring. All the more reason to be thankful for what we have and take advantage of using it!

White Hot Magik said...

I have been wondering about that too. I have a new to me vehicle that allows you to turn off the airbag, my mom's car has the sensor thing. I was reading the law on it a while back because I need to transport more kids than would fit in the back. It was my understanding you could do it if your backseat was full.

Moziesme that is a great perspective. Makes me think of how my grandmother always told me she thought the car seats were dumb and we lived through riding wherever in the car.

Donna Reed In Blue Jeans said...

I know that on both my car and my husband's car the airbag will not deploy if under a certain weight. However, the girls (our 6yr old twins and of course the baby) are still in the backseat. Bailey, my 12 yr old, is allowed to ride in the front but she is basically the size and weight of a petite woman.

Caffeine Court said...

I would never let my 9 year old or 5 year old sit in the front! It's not worth the risk!!!