2008 Acura TL Owner's Manual - Page 53

Main Menu Table Of Contents Protecting Larger Children A child may continue using a booster seat until the tops of their ears are even with the top of the vehicle's or booster's seat-back. A child of this height should be tall enough to use the lap/shoulder belt without a booster seat. When Can a Larger Child Sit in Front The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children age 12 and under be properly restrained in the back seat. If the passenger's front airbag inflates in a moderate to severe frontal collision, the airbag can cause serious injuries to a child who is unrestrained, improperly restrained, sitting too close to the airbag, or out of position. A side airbag also poses risks. If any part of a larger child's body is in the path of a deploying side airbag, the child could receive possibly serious injuries. Of course, children vary widely. And while age may be one indicator of when a child can safely ride in front, there are other important factors you should consider. Physical Size Physically, a child must be large enough for the lap/shoulder belt to properly fit (see pages 14 and 48 ). If the seat belt does not fit properly, with or without the child sitting on a booster seat, the child should not sit in front. Maturity To safely ride in front, a child must be able to follow the rules, including sitting properly, and wearing the seat belt properly throughout the ride. 50 2008 TL