A child can sit in the front seat of a car generally when they are at least 12 years old or at least 135 cm (about 4 feet 5 inches) tall, depending on the country's laws. Children under this age or height should use an appropriate child or booster seat and usually sit in the back for safety.
Key Points on Child Front Seat Regulations:
- In many places including the UK and parts of Europe, children must be at least 12 years old or 135 cm tall before they can legally sit in the front seat without a child seat, but they must always wear a seatbelt.
- Children aged 3 to 12 or under 135 cm must use an appropriate child or booster seat in the front or back seat.
- Rear-facing car seats are not allowed in the front if the airbag is active; if a child must sit in the front in a rear-facing seat, the airbag must be disabled to prevent serious injury.
- It's generally safer for children to sit in the back seat for as long as possible, as this reduces injury risk and driver distraction.
- Specific height and age requirements may vary slightly by country but generally revolve around the 12 years or 135-150 cm threshold.
In summary, for safety and legal reasons, the front seat is usually reserved for children who are at least 12 years old or 135 cm tall, and younger or smaller children must travel in appropriate child seats, preferably in the rear seats. If a child must sit in the front seat in a child seat, special precautions like disabling airbags and pushing the seat back should be taken.
