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I've just read that

"Under 10's may not travel in the front unless the child is in a specially approved seat facing backwards"

Is this true? We have a camper with 7 legal seats. We usually have the kids in the seats around the table in the back but have the youngest (aged 2) , in a proper child seat in the middle of the 3 seats in the front cab section. So am I correct in presuming that this is illegal in France although perfect legal in UK?

I always thought children under 12 could not travel in the front of a vehicle??? just looked up the law and apparently they can ??

http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/law/index.htm

The law is due to change on this in the UK and it will go on the height of the child, not the age. kids under a certain height will have to use a type approved booster seat and will not be allowed in the front inless in a special rear facing car seat so that means under 1 year olds only. One of the reasons is that an airbag going off in the front passenger seat can kill a child sat in the front. Airbags are designed to work for people of a certain height. If a rear facing car seat is used the air bag should be disconnected which some cars can do and some can't so you can't use a rear facing seat in the ones that can't.

The booster seat is because kids are getting strangled by seatbelts because they are too small to use them properly. Again they are designed for adults not kids.

I have heard that the law is to change in the UK making it the height of the child that determines whether or not they need a booster seat but have not heard that they are going to make it law that no child can go in the front unless in a rear facing seat! I understand about the airbag restrictions but what about vehicles without airbags?

However, I think that my assumption about the law in France is correct as that link that skatty posted also stated the same fact about under 10s in France not being allowed in the front AT ALL.

Not sure what happens in a 2 seater van with no rear seats though......

................and the airport taxi will be..............? Let me guess..........Kylacabs?

Men

Hi Missizippi,

 As far as I know skatty is right. No kids under 10 allowed in the front.

Thanks Mamma! I guess the little darlings will have to look after themselves in the rear section then. Either that or I go and join them (leaving hubby to do the navigation himself) Then again - in the back is the DVD player, the fridge, food, all creature comforts...... sod him in the front - I'm staying in the back now!

Interesting the UK law changes from Sept. I know already I'm hotter on my kids using boosters than all their friends parents so some of them are in for a shock if the police clamp down hard.

Yup! I was talking about the law in France. Don't want to risk a cross gendarme! my Franglais leaves a bit to be desired so would rather not take any risks.  

Stressed hubby + foreign gendarm =  if u know worra mean?