How Old To Sit In Front Seat PA

Pennsylvania law does not set a simple minimum age that automatically determines when every child may sit in the front seat. The state’s child-restraint requirements focus primarily on using the correct car seat, booster seat or seat belt based on the child’s age and circumstances. Safety authorities generally recommend that children younger than 13 ride in the back seat because front airbags can create additional injury risk for smaller passengers. Children should remain in an appropriate booster until the vehicle seat belt fits correctly, with the lap belt low across the hips and the shoulder belt across the chest and shoulder rather than the neck or face. A rear-facing child seat should never be placed in front of an active passenger airbag. Because child-restraint laws and safety recommendations are not identical, parents should follow both Pennsylvania’s legal requirements and the child-seat and vehicle manufacturers’ instructions. For the safest seating position, the rear seat is generally recommended for children under 13.