Which Position Should Child Seats Be Installed In?
3 Answers
The optimal installation position for a child safety seat is: either side of the rear row (second row) of the vehicle is suitable for installing a child safety seat. The position behind the driver is relatively safer, as the front seat provides secondary protection and cushioning. The drawback is that when placing or removing the baby, the adult outside the car is positioned on the left side of the vehicle, which is closer to the road rather than the curb, posing certain safety risks. When using this position, always ensure safety when getting in and out of the car. According to a survey by the U.S. Department of Transportation: If the danger coefficient of the driver's seat is set at 100, the front passenger seat has a danger coefficient of 101, while the rear seat behind the driver has a danger coefficient of 73.4, and the opposite rear seat has a danger coefficient of 74.2. The lowest danger coefficient is the middle position in the rear row, with a danger coefficient of 62.2. If installed in the front passenger seat, when the airbag deploys, it may impact the child's head. Additionally, some drivers may frequently interact with the child, leading to distracted driving. Therefore, installing a safety seat here is less safe, increasing the likelihood of accidents. Moreover, the front passenger seat has the lowest safety rating, making it unsuitable for child seat installation. If the safety seat is installed in the middle position of the rear row. In most vehicles, the middle rear seat only has a horizontal two-point seatbelt, and there is no frontal barrier or cushioning. In the event of a collision, the child could be thrown forward and potentially hit the windshield. Furthermore, most child seats are installed using the vehicle's three-point seatbelt or ISOFIX anchors, but most vehicle models do not have ISOFIX anchors in the middle position, and the seatbelt only consists of a lap belt, which cannot effectively secure the safety seat. Therefore, overall, the middle rear position is not the best choice. Instead, the left or right positions in the rear row should be selected.
I believe the most suitable installation position for a child seat is the middle seat in the rear row. This location provides buffer space from both sides of the car, making it safer in the event of a side collision. However, you should first confirm whether your car's middle seat has an ISOFIX interface, as some models only design it on the side seats. For example, my SUV doesn't have an interface in the middle, so I installed it behind the driver's seat. Every time I fasten my child's seatbelt, I pull the strap a few extra times to ensure the seat doesn't wobble. Never place it in the front passenger seat—the impact force when the airbag deploys is extremely dangerous for children. If you absolutely must place it in the front row, remember to manually turn off the passenger airbag switch.
When going on road trips with my kid, I always place the car seat behind the front passenger seat. This allows me to conveniently pick up the child from the roadside when making temporary stops. However, there's a prerequisite for this setup: the passenger airbag must be completely deactivated. Otherwise, if an accident occurs and the airbag deploys, its force could be more dangerous than the collision itself. My car's ISOFIX anchors are located on both rear seats, so I specifically bought a car seat with a dual-locking system that makes two 'click' sounds when securely attached. After installation, I tested the wobble to ensure the seat displacement doesn't exceed 3 cm. Remember to regularly check the wear on the buckles – last time I noticed deformation on the metal plate of my three-year-old buckle and promptly replaced it.
