The safest place in the car for a child in a chair

Each family, who has the happiness to raise a small child, is obliged for his safety to observe the rule of "short hand". It means that it is not necessary to let the child go further than the hands of an adult can reach. So it will be possible to always control the situation when it comes to young children. This rule is true (with some reservations) and in case of transportation of the child by road.

Capital Truths from the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate

Since almost every family with children has their own car, adults simply need to know where the safest place in the car is for the child. Discussions on this matter are conducted at various Internet forums, in European communities, as well as among compatriots.

Statistics are the most diverse, but still want to hear an official response from representatives of those in power. According to Russian legislation, small and not very young toddlers up to 12 years of age must be transported exclusively in a car seat (otherwise a fine!). But where to install it, there are no clear instructions, the parent must solve this issue on his own.

Five years ago, in the framework of the All-Russian project "The Little Big Passenger" the following recommendation was issued: "The safest place is in the middle of the rear seat, that is, in the center of the car." Although some European experts on children's auto-traumatism are of the view that a trip in a car - in any case a dangerous thing. Because whatever position you choose, the main thing is that everyone should feel comfortable. Even with a car seat is also great danger, just its percentage is different.

The choice of a place in the car, depending on the category of car seats

In order for children to occupy the really safest place in the car, it is necessary to take into account the age and category of the purchased chair:

• Armchairs-cradles for the smallest (categories 0 and 0 +) are recommended to be installed in the back seat, with the headboard from the door. The cradle is in this case perpendicular to the movement of the car. If the mother is driving, then often this type of car seat for babies is fixed in the front passenger seat, but against the car. The belt should be lower than the child's shoulder, and the airbag in this place should be absent.
• Both front and rear seats of categories 1, 2, 3 can be fixed. For the first, a five-point belt is mandatory. Children in this case sit in the course of the car. The difference is only in the fixation of the main belt (for 1 - just above shoulder level, for 2 - through the center of the shoulder). Boosters (the third category of seats) do not have a backrest and side walls.

It must be remembered that the safest place in the car for installing a child car seat will be really safe only if the seat of any category is correctly installed and fixed.

Fastening of an autoarmchair in a forward passenger seat

Statistics inexorably tells adults that this option is the most insecure for transporting not only children, but also any passenger. This is explained by the fact that in case of imminent danger the driver, as a rule, takes the vehicle to the left to protect himself from collision. Accordingly, the right front corner of the machine is first put under attack.

In a head-on collision, the child will also be in imminent danger, especially if the airbag is activated. Therefore, to call such a variant of fixing a child car seat "the safest place in a car in case of an accident" is in no way possible. Although there are still advantages: the mother is comfortable to observe how the baby behaves, he is in sight and on the "short hand".

Arrangement of an autoarmchair in a back seat behind the passenger on the right

Encouraging statistics suggest that this option is very acceptable. On the seat to the right of the back there is the least impact in the accident, because it is from the oncoming traffic in the opposite corner. In order for parents to be comfortable to see their child (it's almost impossible in the rear view mirror), you can install an additional mirror in the car. So it will be easier to follow the actions of a small passenger.

Pros are not limited to this. The right side is the safest place in the car in the sense that it will be right to seat the baby and land on the sidewalk side, rather than the roadway.

Behind the driver to the child is a safe - debunked myth

For a long time it was believed that children should sit just behind the left. This is true in three points:

1. As a rule, manufacturers of most brands of cars make the left side more solid.
2. The driver in the event of an accident automatically withdraws his left side from the impact.
3. In the rearview mirror, you can see very well what the child is doing. And the accompanying person in the front passenger seat can easily reach out to the baby in this position.

But there are also three components indicating that behind the driver is not the safest place in the car for the child in the chair:

1. Sitting and planting children is not on the side of the sidewalk, but in the immediate vicinity of the roadway.
2. In addition, very close to this place is located and a counter traffic flow.
3. In the event of any problems with the child, the driver, who is in the car alone, is difficult to reach the chair behind him.

Favorite for the safety of the child seat - the golden mean

Listening to the advice of both domestic experts and foreigners, it is best to seat your precious child directly in the middle of the rear seat sofa. If you visualize the location inside the car of the child seat just behind, in the middle, then it is obvious how much free space around it.

In case of an accident, this place is 16% (according to the statistical data of the case studies of the University of Buffalo) is safer than all other provisions of the child seat. This is really, if not the safest place in the car for a child seat, then exactly the most among the above variations. It is surrounded by a space that is not compressed during a collision (including lateral on both sides).

How to attach a child seat in a car

Purchasing an armchair for transportation in the car of the child, it is necessary to study carefully the instruction and to fasten it strictly on it. Two methods are considered:

• The car seat in the selected position is attached with the seat belts supplied with the vehicle. There are situations when the length of the belts is not enough. In this case, you can not extend them yourself. It is better to contact a car repair shop or an authorized dealer for such a service.
• A less popular option is the Isofix system ("Isofix") - has metal guides in the child seat with special locks on the ends. Sturdy brackets are installed directly in the seat of the machine.

Although choosing the second option and fixing the chair with his help fully confirms the fact that the safest place in the car is in the back in the middle. Risks in this case are much less than when attaching seat belts, despite the fact that the system "Isofiks" is less popular. This is due to the fact that not all cars are equipped in this way.

How to place children in cars, if there are several

In many cars, the middle rear seat is not suitable for the location of the car seat (for example, due to the built-in folding armrest). In addition, if there are three children in the family, it will be problematic to place three car seats in the average car at once.

Two children are best placed in the back seat as close to the center as possible. Or, to act on the principle: the younger, the more it is necessary to protect the trip of the baby. Therefore, parents should rationally decide where the safest places in the car for each of the small passengers will be.