Evidence Shows Safest Seat During a Car Crash Differs for Adults and Children

 Posted on November 07, 2018 in Car Accidents

From the beginning of automobile manufacturing, auto manufacturers have worried about safety. Motor vehicles are constantly being redesigned with increasingly effective safety features. Components like seatbelts, safety glass, and padded dashboards were among the first efforts at increased automobile safety. Airbags designed to cushion passengers in the event of a car crash were another significant addition to automobile design. More recently, experts have been working to understand how these safety features work together to prevent passenger injury during a traffic accident. Insurance companies and automakers are continuously analyzing data in an attempt to answer the question, “Which seat is the safest to be in during a car crash?” 

The Rear Middle Seat Is Often the Farthest from Impact

Many people believe that the rear middle seat is the safest seat in an average automobile. This seat is the furthest away from the sides of the car. In the event of a crash, the passenger in the middle seat is theoretically less likely to come into contact with crushed windows and sides and suffer injury. Statistically, the rear middle seat has been found to be the safest seat during crashes that occur at intersections.

NHTSA Says Children Should Always Ride in the Back Seat

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) officially recommends that parents place children under 13 years of age in the back seat. The rear middle seat is considered the best seat for children, but only if that seat is equipped with a functioning 3-point seat belt. The NHTSA also recommends the rear middle seat as the safest location for a child in a car seat. Studies show that placing a car seat in the rear middle may reduce the risk of injury by up to 43 percent.

The Front Seat May Be Safer for Adults Than the Back

Although the rear middle seat has been shown to be safer than other seats for children, the same may not be true for adults. Research suggests that adults may be safer in the front seat. This is due to several reasons. Firstly, adults are less likely to wear their seatbelt when they are riding in the back seat. Seatbelts in the back seat are often less comfortable for adults, so many forgo using them. Also, many vehicles come equipped with a sensor which notifies front-seat passengers when a passenger has not fastened their seatbelt—often with an notification sound that will not stop until the seatbelt is fastened. Furthermore, newer vehicles include more efficient airbags, including knee-level airbags and side-curtain airbags that are designed to protect drivers and front-seat passengers.

Have You Been Injured in a Car Accident?

Contact the experienced Rockford car accident injury lawyers at Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law, for more information about how you can receive financial compensation for injuries sustained in a car accident. To schedule your initial cost-free consultation with our office, contact us today at 815-215-7561.

Sources:

http://blog.esurance.com/safest-seat-in-the-car/

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/06/is-riding-shotgun-safer-than-sitting-in-the-back/index.htm

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sitting-in-the-back-no-longer-the-safest-bet-for-all/