Children must always be in the car subject to a child restraint device (SRI) approved and adapted to their age, weight and height, so that, in the event of an accident, it is guaranteed that they will have maximum protection. In fact, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) explains that the use of child seats reduces deaths by 75% and injuries by 90%, which are frequently neck, head and abdomen. However, there are many doubts that can arise when installing the retention system. One of the most common is usually the place where we must place the car seat, that is, which is the safest seat to take our child inside the vehicle.
Rear seats, the best choice
The DGT establishes that minors under twelve with a height of up to 1.35 meters must travel in the rear seats of the vehicle, so they are prohibited from doing so in the passenger seat, except in specific cases such as when the car is a two-seater. In the case of children under four years of age, it is recommended that they travel in the opposite direction to that of the march, in order to avoid sudden movements of the neck and chest in the event of suffering a frontal collision.
So, taking into account that the rear seats are the ones with the greatest guarantees of protection against an accident, what is the safest seat? Although it is not an exact science, many experts agree that the safest place for a child is the center seat at the rear, since it is the one that is most protected in the event of a side collision and, therefore, the child you are less likely to be seriously injured. In addition, this seat is the one that offers the best visibility for the driver, which makes it easier to monitor the child.
Last option
The right rear seat is considered the second best option, as it allows the driver to have visual contact with the child and provides safe access from the curb, so that the child can be placed in the seat with ease. However, in the event of a side collision, the consequences could be more serious, since the child would be in the impact zone. The left rear seat is the third option, as it offers a greater risk in the event of a side impact and also provides low visibility from the driver’s seat when positioned directly behind.
Finally, the front passenger seat is, without a doubt, the worst option, since although it offers greater visual and physical control of the child by the driver, statistics show that it is the most dangerous seat for them in case of suffering a traffic accident. In addition, the law requires that the airbag be deactivated if the child is placed in a seat in the opposite direction to the march in this seat, since the consequences could be very serious.
