Child Seats question: Airbag On or Off?

M

Mirrie

Member
Hi all, I have a question:

My six year old will be a not infrequent passenger in my Zed, so I've been reading the 'Child safety' section of the manual which states that airbags should be switched off for children up to 12 years old (or 150 cm tall) travelling in a suitable child restraint system.

This recommendation seems a bit odd for a forward-facing child seat - I've searched the Forum and those who express opinions on the matter (such as in this thread http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18755 ) advise what I would have thought, i.e. position the child as far back as possible but with the airbags on for a forward-facing child seat. However that is *not* what is says in the manual, so is the manual just paranoid arse-covering by the manufacturer, or is there indeed some "considerable risk of injury" to a small person should the airbags go off?

I looked at where junior sits when he's in the car: his body is at least as far back as where we sit as drivers (we are both quite short!!), but of course his head is lower - about at my chest height - and his feet are about where an adult's knees would be.

Any further advice on this matter, perhaps based on knowledge of how exactly the airbags might deploy, would be very welcome. For the time being I think we'll leave the airbags on, in the hope that any injury they might cause would be less than potential injury if they were deactivated.

Cheers folks.
 
It becomes a judgement call at some point. The logic is even when restrained, someone will be hurled forward in a collision and be impacted by the expanding airbag. Make no mistake, this is very violent, but much better than impacting the windscreen or dash. Children and even small adults can be injured significantly by airbag deployments, thus the recommendation to turn it off. The fact the Zed has belt tensioners minimises the distance one would be hurled forward, but it will happen. If the seat and child are all properly constrained, the added protection of the airbag is minimal. Balanced against the chance for injury from the airbag, I personally would leave it off for a six year old, but would probably start leaving it on before reaching 12. You will need to make your own decision on this, I hope this helps you be better informed on the issues.
 
Thanks for your thoughts, that does help. :thumbsup:

My son is pretty slight for his age so maybe even more vulnerable to injury from an exploding airbag than others his age. Coupled with the fact that he seems to love to strain forwards when we're driving, to see what's going on in front ... I've decided to turn the airbags off. Might go out and get an ISO-fix seat for improved stability.
 
I leave mine off for my 7 year old daughter. The baby shop I bought the ISOFIX booster seat from told me the velocity of the airbag deploying is too violent for little ones in car seats, which makes sense.
 
Nondizzyblonde said:
Where is the switch off ? Can't find it in car, and manual lists it as optional extra.
Click to expand...
If you have the option (it comes with ISOFIX, I think), the switch is on the side of the dashboard - you can only see it with the passenger door open.

There is another thread on the Forum all about retro-fitting this if your car does not have it - search for 'Airbags' should find that.
 
Nondizzyblonde said:
Where is the switch off ? Can't find it in car, and manual lists it as optional extra.
Click to expand...

I think if you car has ISOFIX it has the airbag off switch, but ISOFIX is definitely an optional extra
 
Nondizzyblonde said:
Thank you, shall investigate further !
Click to expand...

I looked into this and there used to be a retrofit kit but its apparently been discontinued now.....annoying
 
Thanks again to those who shared their helpful thoughts with me on this question. For the record, I am now the proud owner of a Recaro 'Monza' ISOFIX child seat:
569056954e26e2c5d91f3b6b6d2e219e6dacefbe8b19f0c4e6e0737d7b1a17b434eccbff.jpg

- the man in Halfords was very helpful with trying out a couple of different models to fit them to the car. This one fits on the Sport seats OK, whereas the other we tried (a Britax) sat too proud of the back.

Also, here's a pic of where the Airbag on/off switch is, for anyone else who may stumble on this thread wondering the same as a previous poster:
78351928121383552c277f2b9d3cac75e96128df5e1dce576178394dc5f2601198af74f3.jpg


The ISOFIX fixings do not currently seem as "easy to take on and off" as the marketing blurb would have you believe, but I guess we will get used to how to jimmy them in and out. Reality is that most of the time it's going to be either me or the hubby driving, with either no passenger, or with Junior, so the seat will not need to be taken out too often. :|
 
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