Driving & Driving Test Tips: car passengers, child safety restraint, motoring offence

Question
My 8 year old son wants to sit in the front passenger seat of my car when we go out - Is this allowed ?

Answer
Hi,

It depends on where you are, You didn't say.

Legal obligations In Europe, including the UK, are that children weighing less than 36kg and under 1.35m in height(generally between 0 and 10 years) must be secured in a car with an officially approved child safety restraint system appropriate to their weight and size.

If your children are tall for their age (over 1.35 m), they may use an adult safety belt.

In addition, children under the age of 10 may not travel in the front passenger seat of a car, the exceptions being:
- A child younger than one in a rear-facing safety seat.
- In a vehicle with no rear seats or seats that temporarily cannot be used.
- In the event that all the rear seats are already occupied by children under the age of 10.

If the rules governing the use of car safety equipment are not adhered to, the driver is considered to be legally responsible and has committed a motoring offence.

I hope this answers your question.

Regards,
Phil