The recommended age for kids to sit in the front seat of a car is generally 13 years old according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and many state guidelines in the US. This age recommendation is based on safety concerns, particularly the risk of injury from airbags. Children younger than 13 are safer in the back seat, where the risk of injury in a crash is significantly reduced. In some countries and regions, height is also a factor: for example, children must be at least 1.35 meters tall (about 4 feet 5 inches) to sit in the front seat without a child seat (as in the Netherlands). In the UK, children aged 3 to 12 or under 135 cm tall must use a child seat, which can be in the front or back seat, but younger children or those under the height threshold must remain in the back unless no space is available and the airbag is disabled. In summary:
- Most US states and safety organizations recommend children be at least 13 years old before sitting in the front seat.
- Height and appropriate use of child seats or booster seats are key factors, with many countries requiring children to reach a certain height (around 1.35 meters) before sitting in the front seat safely.
- Airbag safety is a major concern, and children in rear-facing seats should never sit in front of an active airbag.
Children should remain in the back seat as long as possible for maximum safety.
