How old should your child be to get front-seat privileges?

So when should your kids be allowed to ride up front in the car? 

Around age 13 for the average size kid, or better yet – when they’re in the driver’s seat with their own license. According to a new study from the University of Michigan, most parents give their kids front-seat privileges way too early and the longer you can put it off, the better. Safety advocates agree, the most common type of fatal crash is a front crash – and sitting in the back seat keeps kids farther away from most accident forces. The force of air bag deployment is also dangerous and can be deadly to smaller children, regardless of age.

Jennifer Stockburger, vehicle and child safety expert, says It can be tempting to graduate your child to the next level of restraint or up to the front seat for convenience - but when parents understand the increased risk for injury, they’re more likely to put up with the inconvenience for the sake of their kids’ safety. 

Car crashes are the number one killer of children in the United States between one and 13 years old. The bottom line is that too many parents are either not using child safety seats, using the wrong type, or letting their kids ride unrestrained or up front.