At What Age Can Kids Sit in the Front Seat of a Car in Texas?
Modern cars include a variety of safety features intended to protect drivers and passengers in the event of a car accident. These features will depend somewhat on the age, make, and model of your vehicle.
Over the years, automotive safety has evolved to include seat belts, active head restraints, automatic braking and other driver assistance, and, of course, airbags.
Unfortunately, many safety features are designed for adults, not children. Airbags, in particular, can be harmful to children who are too young or small to be in the front passenger seat. This risk is why it’s so important to understand the laws regarding when kids are allowed to sit in the front seat of the car.
The Law in Texas
According to the Texas Transportation Code Sec. 545.412, children under the age of eight and those who are under 4’9” (57 inches) tall must be secured in a child passenger safety seat system (more commonly referred to as a car seat), in compliance with manufacturer instructions. Car seats are not recommended for use in the front seat of the car.
Car Seat Recommendations By Your Child’s Age
Whether you’re involved in a rear-end accident or a head-on collision, the trauma of the situation is magnified if your child is in the car. The best chance to ensure your child’s safety is to choose the right passenger safety system for your child’s age and size and use it correctly.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers guidelines for car seats to help parents keep kids safe in the car, whether they need rear-facing, forward-facing, or booster seats.
Infants: Birth To 12 Months Old
From birth to the age of one year, your infant should be confined to a rear-facing seat when riding in the car. Some parents choose a convertible or all-in-one system designed to transition from infancy to toddlerhood, but you could also start with an infant-only car seat.
Toddlers: 1-3 Years Old
Rear-facing car seats are considered the safest for infants and toddlers, so it’s best to continue using a suitable rear-facing seat as long as possible.
However, when your child outgrows this type of safety system between the ages of one and three (by reaching the maximum height/weight limit or when the top of their head is less than an inch below the top of the seat back), you can safely transition to a forward-facing car seat.
Small Children: 4-7 Years Old
Children aged 4-7 who fall within suitable height/weight limits should remain in a forward-facing car seat. Once they exceed the limits specified by manufacturers, they can upgrade to a booster seat.
Older Children: 8-12 Years Old
Children who are at least eight years old or who have reached a height of 4’9″ can transition out of a booster seat and use the vehicle’s seat belt. However, safety experts recommend that all children under the age of 13 should ride in the back seat, as this is generally the safest position in the car.
If a child under 13 must sit in the front seat, it’s crucial to ensure that they are properly secured with a seat belt and that the seat is moved as far back as possible from the dashboard and airbags.
Keep Your Child Safe With Age-Appropriate Restraints
The laws regarding child safety restraints in vehicles are there for children’s well-being. As a child grows, different forms of restraints will provide them with the most protection in the case of a car accident — from rear-facing infant seats to front-facing car seats to booster seats. Once they’ve reached the appropriate age and height, they can safely sit in the front passenger seat.
Contact the Texas Personal Injury Lawyers of The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
Please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers to get a free initial consultation today at our offices in Friendswood & Galveston, TX.
We serve throughout Galveston County in Texas and surrounding areas.
The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers – Galveston
2101 Mechanic St. Suite 253
Galveston, TX 77550
(409) 207-9299
The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers – Friendswood
312 S. Friendswood Dr.
Friendswood, TX 77546
(281) 992-8633
