For those with kids: where do they sit?

[Tillmanator]

Hi Folks,

I don't have kids. Is there some sort of safety rule about where kids (elementary age who DON'T use a booster) should sit... either behind the driver or behind the passenger seat. I know they usually sit in the back.

The reason I ask is that I teach at an elementary school. Parents come in to drop their kids off and unfortunately have to park in the same lot that my car is already parked in. The come again in the afternoons to get them and also park. The passenger side of my car gets a new door ding about every two weeks or so while the driver's side has NOTHING. So has there been some sort of study that kids are safest behind the driver's seat? All the dings being on my passenger side towards the back indicate that they came from the back door of car with someone sitting behind the driver.

Is this just a really weird happening that it's only one side of my car? And why do kids have to open their doors so darn hard? Half of the dings I've gotten are deep and hard to enough to have removed paint. That's an awfully strong door opening!

Lynn

[onawrxhigh]

Re: For those with kids: where do they sit?

lynn,

I don't know of any studies that have been done that prove /disprove the safest seating location for kids in cars. I do know that here in jersey the law is 8 years old or 80 pounds for booster seat use. I have a 5 and a 4 year old and they both will be in a booster seat for some time yet. I put my little girl behind me in both of our trucks mainly due to the fact she is the shorter of my 2 children and I am taller than my wife so I can move my seat back almost into my normal seating position. I put my son on the passenger side because he is taller and my wife is shorter and automaticly pulls her seat forward which gives my son more room behind her. I think your damage to your car can only be explained as pure and simple ignorance on the parents part for how their kids act. I see it all the time here in jersey. Most people here are of the mind set of I DON'T CARE. It seems to me that most parents would rather be their kids friend that be a parent so these kids are not taught right and wrong in all instances. I for one was always reminded to be mindfull of my car door when getting out of the car when I was growing up so I still do it today. I have had mother nature(wind) grad the door more than one time and I always grabbed the door back from her just in time to prevent my door from slamming into another persons car in a parking lot. This could also be what is happening but who really knows just an idea.


Andrew

[Nappers]

Re: For those with kids: where do they sit?

roped to the top of the Yukon

Can't hear them bicker at each other up there.

In both of our cars one in high school, other in jr high, sit behind me behind the seats or if just one adult, the oldest in front.

I hate it when door dings happen.

With my Neon I park it where it wont get an owiee. I was at a gas station and I JUST did a paint correction and used #26 as my LSP (we went for a Sunday ride). I went into the gas station to get a soda when I came out, there was a young lad looking at the car holding the door on his car and I thought the worst, door ding. He looked at me and said, nice car, like the paint (it's orange blast nice when it's clean) and I said thanks, when you get a car, buy Meguiars products (I told him I just used #26) and he was holding the door so his younger siblings wouldn't ding my doors. I told him he was a young gentleman and he should be proud of it. It's just a Neon, but it's mine and I like it to be ding free until it's paid off

Park away, let the little boogers walk I tell them it's good excercise to walk to their class when I park away from the other psycho parents. LOL.

Aaron

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: For those with kids: where do they sit?

The only thing I remember about the were the kids should sit is this. They should be in the back seat until the age of 12. The force of the airbag is just to great. I believe there is also a weight guideline also. As far as a study of what seat they sit behind. Never heard of one. It just seems to me in todays society everyone is always in a hurry. Therefore are the parents going to walk around to the other side to let a kid in? No lets go get in hurry, hurry, we have to go, faster. You get the jist. Also just becase they get in behind the driver, does not mean they are sitting there. They could slide over to the other side.

[RogueGypsy]

Re: For those with kids: where do they sit?

No kids here, but most of my friends have children (probably why I don't ). This is the scenario I see:
Kid in the back seat behind the driver or passenger in a 2 door vehicle.
Parent in a hurry pushes drivers side door all the way open (dinging your door) and leans the seat forward so the munchkin can climb out.

I see my friends doing this all the time, which is why I don't let them park any where near any of my cars and why the driveway is off limits to the rugrats when they are over. Always in a hurry.

In WA kids have to be in the backseat in a booster until they are at least 60 lbs. I'm sure laws vary by state, but having the same intent (to prevent a child from being crushed by an airbag) are likely very similar.

Hang a note in you passenger side window saying "Please don't ding my beautiful car". Or maybe a big bandaid would get their attention.


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