Airbags,How safe are kids in the front

[Snoplop]

With 6 people in the truck, the front center spot is a perfect fit for a small person. Does anyone have any information on having kids sitting in the front? Air bags are suppose to be very dangerous for children or small adults but the 2003 has no way to deactivate the passenger's air bag. Anyone know of any air bag test results, or an accident involving children in the front center position? Have some friends visiting and they have 6 people and a long drive ahead. It is understandably much more convenient and comfortable with a 6 year old in the center. Is this a safety issue with standard cabs? Thanks for any info.

 

[Ladders]

Observations only... .



The quad cabs have all the wiring for the pass side shutoff but will it work? Need someone to buy the switch unit and try it. Also, there are only 2 bags and I would tend to lean to the side that the bags would not "cover" the center seat. They may extend over far enuff to assist but... . These bags are 2nd/3rd gen and will not have as much force (if I understand this description) as the older ones. I would be more concerned with the shifter and its position in time of duress. But than agn this is just mine opinion... .....



SOTSU!!

\\BF//

 

[Bigsaint]

Personally, I wouldn't put a 6 year old in the center set. While he/she may or may not catch either the driver or passenger side airbags, if they deployed, I wouldn't risk the chance.



When air bags deploy, they do so violently. It wouldn't take much of a glancing side hit on a 6 year old to break his/her neck IMHO. Just not worth the risk of injury to avoid trip discomfort. I'd put the child in the rear seat with a child seat. Yeah, it takes up space but you can't risk a childs life on comfort .



Scott W.

 

[Kilby]

I don't think I'd have to worry about one of my airbags hitting my 7 yo's head. However, I'd really worry about his face getting plastered to the dash in a collision. The center (front) seat is a lap belt only. Aren't all seating arrangements using the lap belt only up front?

 

[Ladders]

I'll defer to BigSaint's call due to his line of "work" . But the front seat in the quad is a seat belt only. All other positions have a shoulder (includes center rear). The std cab has a shoulder belt for all 3 front positions (since they can put the shoulder belt on the back cab wall).



Also, just reading about the side air bags, it states not to mount anything to the roof that would take cutting, drilling, etc (permanent). Guess you could set off the side bags or this would "hinder" their deployment? Not even a sunroof (stated on pg 40 last one under WARNING!



SOTSU!!

\\BF//

 

[Sfarris]

Kids in the front

Airbags, even the new generation, are very bad for kids under 12, and short people should also beware. However, the more important problem is that the center front seat is that it is lap belt only. I have seen a ton of dummy tests, and the results of anyone in a lap belt are disasterous, but more so for young children with inadequate hip/pelvis for belt loading. I would never put a child in that center seat for much more than an emergency trip!

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by Ben Stair

Observations only... .



The quad cabs have all the wiring for the pass side shutoff but will it work? Need someone to buy the switch unit and try it.

Mine has the wires and a little pop-out section held in by screws. Could one buy the switch and pop-out section from a regular cab and just install it in the quad cab? It sure would be nice to disable the darn thing. Wish someone would make a switch to disable to drivers side too.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I tried to buy a kit to install the switch but the parts guy said it wasn't available w/o even looking it up.

 

[Blakers]

I guess you should tell him it's for a regular cab. Say someone broke a key off in the lock or something. If we knew what wires to use, even a turn switch would work. The key is not necessary.

 

[Dean Upson]

I will also chime in about children in the front center seat. I would never do it. If the unthinkable happened it would be a terrible thing to live with.



Dean

 

[truckstom]

On a 2nd gen. How can I DEactivate ALL airbags??

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Snoplop



It is understandably much more convenient and comfortable with a 6 year old in the center. Is this a safety issue with standard cabs? Thanks for any info.

Don't do it!!! It is not safe, the child will be killed or crippled. Use two vehicles if needed.

 

[Blakers]

Best to keep the kids in the bed like they used to do. Then you can't hear them whining and fighting.