Child seat in the VE Ute

[Marco]

I always thought you couldn't put child seats in the front of utes these days because of the airbags - but I was looking at a VE SV6 MY10 ute this morning and it had a child seat anchor point behind the passenger seat.

Is it just the rearward facing capsule types that you can't put in the front then? Any there any VE ute owners here with child seats in the front?

I thought I'd have to wait a long time to get a ute because of my nearly two year old son...but maybe not?

(Incidentally, while I was visiting dealers this morning I asked about the diesel Cruze...none in stock to take a look at, generally sold before they arrive so not much chance of getting a test drive in one, and no discounts!)

[Devil CV8]

I've used a child seat in my ute, but due to the airbag the seat goes all the way back.

as for legality, lots of yes, no, maybe, whatever.

As I only take my grand daughter on occasion in the ute, it's not something I need to worry about. With the seat the whole way back, she is far enough away from the airbag that it'll never hurt her anyway.

[HRT 8]

No rearward facing baby seats to be used in a dash mounted front air bag equipped vehicle.
So in a VE ute you can use a front facing seat but ensure the seat is all the way to the rear most posi.

[Clubby317]

Yes I think due to the seating situation with utes you can put a child seat in as there is no further options. Crewman utes its illegal I believe as you have the rear seat to fit child seat. Member HRT8 would know more on this subject as a ute owner, father and im sure he may have even looked into the legal aspects of your question.

[Marco]

Thanks guys...sounds like it might be legal but not necessarily a good idea?

[sixlta]

All is fine as long as the seat is forward facing! done it for years and cops have had no issues!

[Tyre biter]

Marco,

No law in Canberra about it, and even VIC & NSW which have/are bringing in stricter rules on where children can and can't sit and what sort of seat/capsule they require don't specifically deal with this issue from my (limited) reading to date. Essentially the issue of children, child seats and airbags has grown from misinformation arriving from the USA.

In the US, nine-tenths of bugger-all states have mandatory seat belt laws and thereby the airbags become the primary form of restraint. As a result historically they have been dfferently configured whereby they open in a different pattern allowing for a quicker deployment. The down side being the increased velocity of the bag has from time to time brought about injuries, especially to children.

Here, they open differently and more slowly so as to better cushion (for want of a better term) the impact of the person into the bag, taking into account the air bag is a supplementary form of restraint - hence the term SRS - because seat belts are mandatory. In any case, all these stories of airbags decapitating kids and whatnot are either urban myth or attributable in places other than Australia.

Yes, it is not a great idea at all to place a child's head near any airbag and if you have a look on Holden's web-site you'll find a whole lot of information borne from decades of research partnered with Monash University. It is a great source of information and you will find it an eye opener as for how long a child ought to ride in a booster seat - the general rule of thumb is 140cm tall regardless of age.

Cheers, TB

[Devil CV8]

No rearward facing baby seats to be used in a dash mounted front air bag equipped vehicle.
So in a VE ute you can use a front facing seat but ensure the seat is all the way to the rear most posi. That is probably a better way of saying what I meant.


Marco,

No law in Canberra about it, and even VIC & NSW which have/are bringing in stricter rules on where children can and can't sit and what sort of seat/capsule they require don't specifically deal with this issue from my (limited) reading to date.
The problem is in NSW the following penalty does apply http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/index.cgi?fuseaction=demeritpoints.searchhandler&searchfor=child+restraint&SearchFormButton.x=0&SearchFormButton.y=0

and there is no exemption for a ute, however when you go and read http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2008104/s266.html
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2008104/s267.html
it indicates that if there aren't 2 or more rows of seats it's ok for a child restraint. or I'm reading it wrong.

[alpha1]

I was told that the airbag was not an issue, the reason for this is because in the VE the passanger airbag can be turned off by a Holden dealer. Apparently the VE is the only model which the passenger airbag controlled.

[Tyre biter]

Devil,

Bloody confusing I know. I haven't bothered to look at NSW version of the ARR - Rule 267 (Isn't the whole purpose of the ARR to standardise road rules?). I'd imagine the rule mentions either a specific type of vehicle to which it apples, or mentions a specific type of vehicle to which it doesn't apply, or contains several sub-rules that clarify the issue of vehicles not having more than one row of seats similar to the advice in the Austlii publication.

My understanding of it all is the Austlii advice is exactly as it is and was intended by our legislators to be - that is, the new law doesn't apply to a vehicle with only one row of seats.

Marco, a call to the RTA or NSWPOL should clarify though I'd probably email so you have some advice in writing should you get done for it.

Cheers, TB

[Devil CV8]

I was told that the airbag was not an issue, the reason for this is because in the VE the passanger airbag can be turned off by a Holden dealer. Apparently the VE is the only model which the passenger airbag controlled.
I'd be very surprised that the VE can have a passenger bag disabled, or that a dealer would do it. Plus even if it is done, how can you prove to the police that it has been disabled.

(subject to it being illegal to have a front facing car seat in the passenger seat of a ute)

[gmack]

Mitsubishi Triton single cabs have a button that turns the passenger airbag off if you have a child in that side. This brings up a warning light on the dash to sat that it is off. I'm not sure weather the ve utes have a similar thing but I doubt a dealer would turn it off permenantly.

[Marco]

MY10 SV6/SS utes also have side and curtain airbags though, would that make a difference? Probably not as it's not unusual to have side and curtain airbags in the back seat, but worth mentioning.

[JC1971]

Mate for the safety of your kids, just don't do it! Air bags and kids just don't mix, no mater how far you crank the seat back.

[gasguz]

Mate for the safety of your kids, just don't do it! Air bags and kids just don't mix, no mater how far you crank the seat back.

Agreed, I would not want to risk my little one by sticking them in the front. I even put the babyseat in the middle of the rear seat for added protection from side collisions that may occur.

[SSKIDD]

I asked the RTA if my 2yr old nephew(using a forward facing car seat) could ride in the front seat of my vy ute. And according to them children under 12 are not alloud to be in the front seat with a airbag!

[`redoctober]

Wouldn't they be able to overcome this problem by a trigger which disables the passenger airbag when a child seat is clipped into the anchor? Just a thought for Holden.

[Supersix]

i phoned holden and ask if they could/would disable a passenger front air bag for this very situation as was told NO! if i have a kid in my ute he is in a forward facing maxi rider seat and the seat is as far back away from the air bag as possible. i even asked a highway patrol officer if kids clould ride in a ute and he said "not in the back (derr) but in a seat in the front was fine"

[Marco]

Agreed, I would not want to risk my little one by sticking them in the front. I even put the babyseat in the middle of the rear seat for added protection from side collisions that may occur.

Yep, and we've done exactly the same. Makes it harder to get them in/out, but worth it.

I only asked the question because I didn't think it was possible at all and was surprised to see the anchor points in the ute; still don't think it sounds like a good idea.

[wranglerrjm]

I have a VE MY9.5 and have had my son in a child seat on numerous occassions without any issues. As many have said, having a forward facing seat in the car is of no issue. As for the airbag, a child will not have the same mass as an adult and therefore will not propell in the same manner as a full grown adult. Also, a child will be shorter, and generally not even close to being affected by a opening airbag. On top of all that, depending on the type of car seat, if a harness is in place, then this will prevent the child coming into contact with an airbag.