Which is the SAFEST seat in a car - front or rear?

VeluM · 21st April 2020, 17:06

I recall a study that found that if belted up, the safest seat is the centre-rear seat, or second row middle seat for a three row vehicle. This is a generic best-survival seat considering obviously that one isn’t driving the car.

Front offset is the most common accident type, and while the data for the research study on which this result is based is a bit old, it will still hold true as a simple rule of thumb.

There can be endless debates that my car has load limiters only in the front, nine airbags or two and what have you, and I’m not contradicting those opinions at all. It is probably best explained as the best seat if the car only has seat belts.

ButterRider 7 · 14th December 2020, 10:19

Assuming a passenger is properly using their seatbelt or car seat or booster for a child, the rear middle seat is currently the safest seat in a car. However, as motor vehicle safety technology continues to improve, this age-old wisdom is beginning to change. In cars from the most recent model years, experts now recommend adults age 55 or older sit in the front seats if they're looking for the safest spot, according to The New York Times. Though, according to the Times, as belts that tighten automatically with crash detection sensors appear in rear seats, the back seat will again be considered safest overall.

volkman10 · 30th April 2023, 18:41

Belgian road safety organization VIAS claims the 'most dangerous' and which is the safest in the event of an accident!

The VIAS Institute indicates that the car driver is more vulnerable than other passengers.
The driver is exposed to a 37 percent higher risk of death in a traffic accident than a passenger, and even 47 percent more than those sitting in the back seat, the portal gocar.be writes.
The safest place in the car is in the middle of the back seat. The condition is that there is a three-point seat belt and that the driver in the vehicle uses it. In this case, your chances of survival increase by 25 percent compared to your passengers in the back seat.

Link

View Poll Results: Which is the SAFEST seat in a car?
Front Left Passenger Seat (A)	74	38.54%
Rear Left Passenger Seat (B)	102	53.13%
Other	16	8.33%
Voters: 192. You may not vote on this poll

21st April 2020, 17:06	#46
VeluM Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,777 Thanked: 1,479 Times	Re: Which is the SAFEST seat in a car - front or rear? I recall a study that found that if belted up, the safest seat is the centre-rear seat, or second row middle seat for a three row vehicle. This is a generic best-survival seat considering obviously that one isn’t driving the car. Front offset is the most common accident type, and while the data for the research study on which this result is based is a bit old, it will still hold true as a simple rule of thumb. There can be endless debates that my car has load limiters only in the front, nine airbags or two and what have you, and I’m not contradicting those opinions at all. It is probably best explained as the best seat if the car only has seat belts.
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14th December 2020, 10:19	#47
ButterRider 7 BANNED Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Pune Posts: 68 Thanked: 32 Times	Re: Which is the SAFEST seat in a car - front or rear? Assuming a passenger is properly using their seatbelt or car seat or booster for a child, the rear middle seat is currently the safest seat in a car. However, as motor vehicle safety technology continues to improve, this age-old wisdom is beginning to change. In cars from the most recent model years, experts now recommend adults age 55 or older sit in the front seats if they're looking for the safest spot, according to The New York Times. Though, according to the Times, as belts that tighten automatically with crash detection sensors appear in rear seats, the back seat will again be considered safest overall.
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30th April 2023, 18:41	#48
volkman10 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: -- Posts: 23,403 Thanked: 67,769 Times View My Garage	Re: Which is the SAFEST seat in a car - front or rear? Belgian road safety organization VIAS claims the 'most dangerous' and which is the safest in the event of an accident! The VIAS Institute indicates that the car driver is more vulnerable than other passengers. The driver is exposed to a 37 percent higher risk of death in a traffic accident than a passenger, and even 47 percent more than those sitting in the back seat, the portal gocar.be writes. The safest place in the car is in the middle of the back seat. The condition is that there is a three-point seat belt and that the driver in the vehicle uses it. In this case, your chances of survival increase by 25 percent compared to your passengers in the back seat. Link
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