Why shouldn't children sit in the front seat of a car?
Many people driving cars with children often have the habit of letting the child sit in the front seat without realizing that this action can lead to danger and even threaten the child's life.
Cars are becoming more and more popular and have become the means of transportation for many young families in Vietnam. However, there is a worrying reality that many parents, when driving with young children, often carelessly let their children sit in the front seat, without being aware of the potential dangers behind this habit.
Why is it dangerous for children to sit in the front seat of a car?
According to many experts, the front seats of a car are the most dangerous positions in a car in the event of a collision. Because the front seat area will be in closer and more direct contact with obstacles or causes of accidents than the rear seats of the car. Therefore, the potential risks are also higher.
In addition, the main safety systems of cars, including airbags and seat belts in the front seats, are arranged by manufacturers to protect people sitting in these positions, but these systems are designed mainly for adults. While children are smaller and are not suitable for these systems. Therefore, in the event of an accident, due to not being best protected, children are at a higher risk of serious injury or even death than adults.
In addition, there is another reason that leads to the dangers of letting children sit in the front seats of cars. That is the child's ability to control themselves and their behavior. Compared to adults, children have not yet fully developed their ability to think and control their behavior. Moreover, children are often hyperactive and curious. Therefore, if they sit in the front seat, it is easy to cause trouble, confusion and loss of concentration for the driver, which can easily lead to accidents on the road.
Is it illegal to let a child sit in the front seat?
In Vietnam, current laws do not have specific regulations regarding the case of children sitting in the front passenger seat or even sitting in the same seat as the driver.
Regarding people sitting in cars, the 2008 Road Traffic Law only stipulates: "If a car is equipped with a seat belt, the driver and the person sitting in the front row of the car must wear a seat belt." This means that up to now, there is still no specific provision on who is allowed and who is not allowed to sit in the front seats. Therefore, allowing children to sit in the front passenger seat or sit in the driver's seat is not considered a violation.
However, as mentioned above, letting children sit in the front seats of the car is extremely dangerous and poses many risks. Therefore, to ensure the safety of young children, parents should arrange for them to sit in the back seat. Furthermore, it is necessary to equip a safety seat specifically for children.
