A question for TC

[Perkles]

I just bought a roof down two seater for weekend drives in the summer,I want to take my 4 year old daughter out in it as she loves cars with no roofs
My wife has said no way is she going in the front of the car its against the law and dangerous
I've read on the net you can but need to turn the airbag off which I can't get my head around .surely its better to hit the airbag than the dash ?
She uses a booster seat in the back of my company car which might fit in the two seater but maybe a booster cushion is better
If its not safe I will accept it and she will have to wait till she's older and bigger

[Cav]

"My wife has said no way is she going in the front of the car" ..... "two seater"

Does your wife expect you to put her in the boot?!

[Kwacky]

There's a risk of injury to children from air bags. They're designed for adults.

You can have your child in the front seat provided she is in an appropriate child seat. From memory a child booster seat won't be enough for a 4 year old, but I could be wrong.

[duke63]

Switching off the airbag is only when they are sat in a rear facing child seat.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car ... usage.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Perkles]

But headbutting an airbag surely has to be safer than a dashboard
Would love to hear TCs view on this

[C00kiemonster]

I wouldn't until she is a little older. Tbh I doubt the airbag would help in a crash as she's small. It's the seatbelt and correct booster seat that is far more important IMO.

[Kwacky]

A small child would have to be unrestrained to hit the dashboard.

[Monty]

Switching off the airbag is only when they are sat in a rear facing child seat.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car ... usage.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

^That!

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0O9_2FJaN4[/video]

[StMarks]

A relative of mine had this issue Perkles.
He is separated from the conceited vacuous psycho mother of his daughter, but visits/collects her on an almost daily basis.
He abandoned his 8x years of motorcycling, & took his car test just so that he would be able to attend to her without having to rely on public transport.
After a year of enduring a 1.0 Micra, he treated himself to a 2 seater & was faced with your dilemma. After making many enquiries the conclusion that he came to was that the threshold was based on physical size rather than age.
I don't know what the parameters that he identified are, but I can ask him if you like.? I do know that he decided that the airbag should stay switched on.
Will be interesting to hear what Mr TC has to say.

[Perkles]

Cheers St Marks and yes I would like to hear your mates views

[T.C.]

Firstly, my apologies for not responding sooner.I resigned from my job yesterday and had a load of associated rubbsh to deal with subsequently.

Anyway, The law requires all children travelling in the front or rear seat of any car, van or goods vehicle must use the correct child car seat until they are either 135 cm in height or 12 years old (which ever they reach first). After this they must use an adult seat belt. There are very few exceptions.

It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that children under the age of 14 years are restrained correctly in accordance with the law.

The law goes onto say in respect of children under 3 years old

Children MUST use the correct child car seat.

And It is illegal to carry a child in a rearward-facing child seat in the front if there is an active front passenger airbag.

In the rear seat, it simply states that Children MUST use the correct child restraint.

In respect of children between the ages of 3 and 12 or 135cm tall the law states

In the Front Seat

Children MUST use the correct child restraint.

In the Rear Seat Children MUST use the correct restraint, where seat belts are fitted.

Exceptions

Licensed taxi or private hire vehicle

Short, unexpected journey

Two occupied child restraints in the rear prevent a third being fitted

Vehicle is not fitted with seat belts

An unexpected journey is defined as -

If an appropriate child car seat is not available, a child over 3 years of age can use an adult seat belt if the journey is all of the following:

Unexpected

Necessary

Over a short distance

I hope that clarifies things for you and helps you out.

[Perkles]

cheers that makes it very clear,she has a britax full size booster seat,I think shes tall enough to go in the car and I also thinks its safe enough.As a parent I would obviously never put her at risk but also dont want to bring her up wrapped in cotton wool

[Kwacky]

Alex will want a go, you know that don't you?

[Perkles]

Alex will want a go, you know that don't you?

no problem any time

[StMarks]

Firstly, my apologies for not responding sooner.I resigned from my job yesterday and had a load of associated rubbsh to deal with subsequently.........

That is stress, and some.!
Hope you're coping ok, and that pastures new will be better for you TC.

Perkles, I asked Adrian for you & he said that it was 4' 5", so that ties in nicely with TC's info.
He also admitted that she was under that size when he got his 2 seater. But it was a Grey import from Japan, and as well as (presumably) being intended for their "more diminutive physique" market, the seat belts shoulder anchor was height adjustable. He said that at it's lowest point it actually seemed too low for his daughter even then.!

Hth.

[Perkles]

Firstly, my apologies for not responding sooner.I resigned from my job yesterday and had a load of associated rubbsh to deal with subsequently.........

That is stress, and some.!
Hope you're coping ok, and that pastures new will be better for you TC.

Perkles, I asked Adrian for you & he said that it was 4' 5", so that ties in nicely with TC's info.
He also admitted that she was under that size when he got his 2 seater. But it was a Grey import from Japan, and as well as (presumably) being intended for their market the seat belts shoulder anchor was height adjustable. He told me that at it's lowest point it actually seemed too low for his daughter even then.!

Hth.

cheers mate

[C00kiemonster]

Alex will want a go, you know that don't you?

He loved mine, shame we didn't have a booster seat so I couldn't go on the main roads with him.

[Kwacky]

He might be tall enough this summer. Both of the kids have grown recently (they do that). Georgie isn't far off Sam's height now.

[Perkles]

Alex will want a go, you know that don't you?

He loved mine, shame we didn't have a booster seat so I couldn't go on the main roads with him.

who wouldnt love an F type ! what a great sounding engine in those things

[C00kiemonster]

Alex will want a go, you know that don't you?

He loved mine, shame we didn't have a booster seat so I couldn't go on the main roads with him.

who wouldnt love an F type ! what a great sounding engine in those things

I'm over in March and April so if you show me yours, I'll show you mine

I do like S2000's