Where should a child under 12 years old be placed in a vehicle equipped with air bags?

A child under 12 years old should be placed in the back seat of a vehicle equipped with air bags for several important safety reasons. The back seat is designed to be the safest position in the vehicle for younger passengers. In the event of a collision, air bags deploy with significant force, which could pose serious risks to a child seated in the front seat.

Children are more vulnerable to injury from airbag deployment, as the inflating bag can impact them with great force. Positioning them in the back seat significantly reduces the risk of injury related to air bag deployment. Furthermore, the back seat provides additional distance from the impact zone in case of a frontal collision.

Using appropriate child restraint systems, such as a booster seat or car seat, in the back seat also ensures that the child is secured correctly and safely, further enhancing their protection while traveling in a vehicle. This emphasizes the importance of child passenger safety guidelines and the best practices for protecting young passengers on the road.