Is Holding a Child in the Front Passenger Seat a Traffic Violation?
2 Answers
Holding a child in the front passenger seat is a traffic violation. The regulations for passengers in the front seat are as follows: 1. Minors under the age of 12 are not allowed to sit in the front seat: Minors under the age of 12 are not permitted to sit in the front row of a motor vehicle. Preschool-aged children should be seated in the rear and secured with a dedicated child seat as required by regulations. 2. Minors aged 12 and above: They should not sit in the front passenger seat but can sit in the rear seats. If necessary, a child seat should be used along with a seatbelt for securement, and the child safety locks on the rear doors should be engaged. 3. Pregnant women should avoid sitting in the front passenger seat: Since the design of the front passenger seatbelt does not account for pregnant women, it may fail to ensure their safety in the event of an accident.
I've been driving for most of my life, and holding a child in the front passenger seat is absolutely a traffic violation. If caught by traffic police, they usually issue a ticket directly and deduct points as well. Chinese traffic regulations stipulate that children under 12 must sit in the back seat using a safety seat and cannot be held in the front. This is because the front seat has an airbag, and in the event of an accident, if it deploys, the fragile little body of a child can't withstand it. I have a friend who was fined 200 yuan for trying to be convenient, and the child was also quite frightened. Safety comes first, don't skimp on that little money. Buy a suitable child seat and place it in the back seat—it's both legal and reassuring, and it makes long drives much more stable.
