At What Age Can Kids Sit In The Front Seat Of A Car in Texas?
For many children, moving from the back seat to the front seat of a vehicle is a rite of passage. This simple act makes them feel much more “grown-up”; however, many parents are unsure of when this move from the back to the front can legally take place. Texas is one of the many states that does not have a specific law dictating the age at which a child may sit in the front seat.
What Factors Determine When a Child Can Sit in The Front Seat?
The recommendations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggest that children should remain in the back seat until they are 13 years old. However, age is not the only factor used to determine when a child may sit in the front seat of a vehicle. In fact, height and weight also play an extremely important role when deciding whether to allow your child to transition from the back seat to the front seat of your vehicle.
These restrictions and recommendations are in place to minimize the risk of injury to a child in the event of a car accident. In the front seat, an airbag deployment can injure a child, especially if they do not meet the minimum requirements for age, height, and weight. Airbags can cause concussions and other severe injuries in children. Texas law requires that children under the age of 8 — unless they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall — must be secured in a child safety seat system, regardless of seating position.
Front Seat Rules in Other States
The majority of states across America do not have specific laws outlining the age at which a child may sit in the front seat of a passenger vehicle. Although certain states do not have laws specifying age requirements, many follow the recommendations of the NHTSA.
Some of the states that do have rules governing children in front seats are:
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Utah
- West Virginia
In many of these states that do have age-specific laws about riding in the front seat, children must be at least 8 years old to ride in the front. However, some state laws allow children as young as 4 to ride in the front seats, while other states limit children who are under 13 from riding in the front.
Children Riding in the Front Seat: The Parental Dilemma
A big challenge for parents wishing to keep their kids safe in the back seat as long as possible is the social aspect of riding in the front seat – or peer pressure. Although the recommendation is that kids under 13 remain in the back seat, most children have a strong urge to move to the front seat prior to this age. Some children feel embarrassed riding in the back seat of a vehicle once they pass a certain age, especially when it seems that almost everyone they know is already allowed to ride in the front.
Although it can be difficult not to be swayed by social factors, a parent should always keep their child’s safety as a top priority. If remaining in the back seat longer avoids a severe or catastrophic injury, then it is worth waiting another year or two before moving to the front.
Contact The Dallas Car Accident Law Firm of Benton Accident & Injury Lawyers Today
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Dallas, TX, contact us for more information, please contact the experienced Dallas car accident lawyers at Benton Accident & Injury Lawyers today. We offer free consultations.
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