What is the safest position in the car?

Parents often hear all sorts of advice about where their child “should” sit, and the “middle seat is always safest” myth pops up constantly. In reality, there is no universal safest spot. The safest position is the one furthest from the point of impact…and unless you own a crystal ball, there’s no way to predict where that will be.

Because crashes are unpredictable, the most important rule is simple: the safest place is wherever your child’s seat installs correctly and securely every single time.

Why the “middle seat is safest” advice isn’t always true

The rear centre seat is theoretically the furthest from side impact, but in real life it’s simply not an option for most families. Reasons include:

• The vehicle manual does not allow a car seat in the centre.

• The manual does not permit a support leg in that position.

• The seat physically doesn’t fit due to width, belt layout, or buckle spacing.

• There’s no ISOFIX in the middle.

• You have more than one child - and unless you’re prepared to formally announce who your favourite child is, you can’t pop just that one in the centre and leave the others outboard!

Because of these very normal limitations, most families sensibly use one of the outboard rear seats instead.

Why many parents choose behind the passenger seat

In the UK, most people naturally park kerbside with the passenger side to the pavement. This makes the passenger-side rear seat a convenient and safer loading spot, as it keeps children away from traffic.

However, this is purely circumstantial. Your usual parking situation at home, at nursery, at work, or on your street might mean another seat is safer and easier. Always choose the position that gives safe access and the most secure installation for your setup.

What about using the front seat?

Rear-facing in the front can be perfectly safe if:

• The airbag is fully deactivated.

• The vehicle manual explicitly permits a seat there.

• The car seat installs securely with no more than 1 inch of movement.

It is safer to have a child correctly rear-facing in the front than rear-facing in the back while escaping, unbuckling, or crying to the point that the driver becomes distracted. Driver distraction is a major risk factor, and choosing the position that keeps everyone calm and safe is never something to feel guilty about.

Don’t be confused by the warning symbols in your car or manual regarding rear-facing in the front seat. You must never install a rear-facing seat in front of an active airbag, but once it is properly deactivated, rear-facing in the front is perfectly safe.

FAQs

Is the middle seat safer than the sides?

Only in theory. In practice, it’s only safer if your seat fits there correctly. If the installation is compromised in the centre, an outboard seat with a secure fit is the safer choice.

Should siblings sit together or apart?

It makes no safety difference. Place each child wherever their own seat installs the best. (And no, you don’t need to rank them first!).

What about forward-facing in the front seat?

Forward-facing in the front is legal, but it isn’t the safest option. Young children, especially under 12, are at higher risk from a frontal airbag deployment, and the back seats offer far better protection. If you have no choice but to use the front seat forward-facing (i.e. a van, 2 seater car, etc) , you must follow your vehicle manual carefully, observe the specific airbag rules for your car, and position the seat as far back as possible. But where you have the choice, forward-facing children should travel in the rear seats, as this is significantly safer.