I have a car question

[Sonya]

We have a Saturn SL2 that is from 1999. Can Saturn turn off the passenger side airbag so I could put DS4 in the front seat? Is that even legal? I know you can do that with trucks and some other cars.

Disclaimer: We have another car that will fit all 3 carseats in the back seat, but we can't afford another car payment right now. Had I not got knocked up with twins this wouldn't even be an issue. The Saturn will just be used for DH to take the kids 10 minutes away to the sitter, we never use the car for familly outings.

 

[Pop Daddy]

everything is legal unless your caught

 

[C.Ann]

No - it's not legal.. And sadly, I once read somewhere that the majority of fatal car crashes occur within 1 mile of your home.. It's not a risk worth taking.. That "10 minute" trip could leave you and your DH with a lifetime of heartache..

Why can't the other car be used to transport the children to the sitter?

 

[sugarpie]

It's really unsafe to have a small child in the front seat, even with the airbag disabled.

I'm not sure if it's legal or not. It's not something I would do.

 

[Beth76]

Can you find a narrow booster that could possibly allow all seats to fit in the backseat?

 

[Sonya]

Yeah, I know it isn't safe to have kids in the front seat, I thought that was mostly from the air bag.

We have 2 cars, one for me and one for DH. DH takes DS to the sitter and I pick him up. With one car to transport all 3 kids and one car that won't, it makes life kind of impossible. I wish we could afford another car, but that doesn't seem to be happening right now.

It angers me to see the parents who don't bother to buckle their kids in, and we are trying to do the right thing but can't afford to. Whatever happens, our kids will be in car seats. Even if I have to drive to DH's work and trade cars with him, which is what we are thinking we will have to do.

Maybe a miracle will happen and money will fall out of the sky!

 

[C.Ann]

Yeah, I know it isn't safe to have kids in the front seat, I thought that was mostly from the air bag.

We have 2 cars, one for me and one for DH. DH takes DS to the sitter and I pick him up. With one car to transport all 3 kids and one car that won't, it makes life kind of impossible. I wish we could afford another car, but that doesn't seem to be happening right now.

It angers me to see the parents who don't bother to buckle their kids in, and we are trying to do the right thing but can't afford to. Whatever happens, our kids will be in car seats. Even if I have to drive to DH's work and trade cars with him, which is what we are thinking we will have to do.

Maybe a miracle will happen and money will fall out of the sky!

-------------------------

That's what I was thinking - maybe you and your DH will have to swap cars for awhile.. It's really better than the possible alternative..

 

[sugarpie]

I was curious about whether or not it is legal to disable the airbag so I asked my husband what he thought. He's a mechanic & sometimes deals with airbag issues. His understanding is that if the car does not have a switch to turn the airbag off, which yours probably doesn't, it is illegal to put a child in the front seat, even in a car seat.

Maybe you could call your local police department & ask. The back seat is safer, though.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Maybe they can add the switch. My pickup truck has one. It is uses the ignition key.

Mikeeee

 

[C.Ann]

Maybe they can add the switch. My pickup truck has one. It is uses the ignition key.

Mikeeee

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I believe it's still illegal to have a child that young in the front seat - and a garage can be fined heavily for disengaging an air bag..

 

[sugarpie]

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I believe it's still illegal to have a child that young in the front seat - and a garage can be fined heavily for disengaging an air bag..

I think the laws actually vary from state to state whether a child can be in the front seat. I looked up the law here & it seems like it depends on age & height. My five year old could ride in the front seat (in a booster seat) with the airbag disabled, because she is tall enough. I really wouldn't consider it unless it was an absolute emergency, though.

My husband said it would be illegal for him, as a mechanic, to disable the airbag.

 

[kejoda]

Is it possible to put your son in a booster? They aren't as wide as carseats and if you put him in the middle he should be safe enough. That is if its even legal in your state. All depends on his age and weight.

 

[dreamcometrue]

it's illegal to disable the airbag. The only exception is a pick up truck where you have no choice but to let the child sit in the front! However, my DH has a truck and his has a backseat and he still has the switch to turn the airbag off!

 

[Sonya]

Thanks everyone. Another idea shot down. Oh well. Something will work out, no matter what.

We have tried to put the 2 infant seats in the car and measure for a small booster but the Saturn is really small and it won't work!

 

[RadioNate]

Thanks everyone. Another idea shot down. Oh well. Something will work out, no matter what.

We have tried to put the 2 infant seats in the car and measure for a small booster but the Saturn is really small and it won't work!

What about installing the infant seats without a base, you can do it pretty quickly once you have pratice. Does the middle seat in the saturn have a shoulder belt or lap only.

You can't use a booser with a lap only belt. if it is a lap belt only I'd try an infant seat base in the middle and an infant seat w/out the base and a narrow dedicated booster (like the graco turbo booster) in the outboard positions.

 

[disney1990]

This is what I found from searching the web:




Can I disable the passenger's side airbag?

Yes, but only under certain circumstances. Many people are
concerned about the safety of people, especially children and
small adults who sit in the front passenger's seat, because of
the recent reports of deaths and injuries in low speed
collisions caused by the deployment of the passenger's side
airbag. Most of the deaths and injuries occurred because the
occupant was not properly seated and using a seat belt at the
time of the accident, or an rear-facing infant car seat was
placed in the front seat.

The best action to take is to carefully follow the instructions
for safe operation of the airbags. Always wear your safety belt,
and keep kids buckled in the back seat at all times.

There is also a procedure you can follow to get an airbag disable
switch installed. You need to fill out a form and get a certificate
that allows you get a switch installed. NHTSA has a comprehensive
page at their web site that has complete instructions, background
information, and a copy of the form. The site is at
<http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/airbags/>