Kids can legally ride in the front seat in many places starting at various ages, but safety guidelines strongly recommend keeping them in the back seat as long as possible. In general:
- In the UK, children aged 3-12 years or up to 135 cm tall must travel in a child seat or booster seat, front or back, but it is safest to keep them in the back. Children under 3 can only sit in the front if no back seat space is available, and the airbag must be disabled for rear-facing seats.
- In the US and many other countries, authorities like the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend children remain in the back seat until at least age 13 for safety reasons, as airbags are dangerous for younger children.
- In Colorado, it is technically legal for children of any age to sit in the front seat provided they weigh at least 20 pounds, but safety experts strongly advise waiting until age 13.
Safety points to consider if a child must ride in the front seat include disabling the passenger airbag if the child is rear-facing and pushing the front seat back as far as possible for forward-facing seats. The safest place for children remains the back seat, ideally the middle position with a proper seatbelt or car seat.
In summary, while legal minimum ages vary, for optimal safety, children should ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old or have reached the height and weight where airbags pose less risk. Use appropriate child restraints until those milestones are met.
