Corvette and Kids
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Corvette and Kids
Ok, so my seven year old wants to go for a ride in my Corvette. She is 52 inches tall and weighs about 62 lbs. Would it be safe for her to ride in the passenger seat with a booster seat? Wife says no way. Any thoughts?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 84
From: Woodlands (houston) TX
h3ll yeah its ok. you can put a baby seat in the passenger seat and safely transport infants. vette is alot safer than most cars on the road. especially stupid tiny cars like the Smart.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: Mission Viejo CA
Not trying to be a smart a$$ but what are your wife's concerns? You have a car with air bags and seat belts. And at 62 lbs she is certainly too big for a car seat. The NHTSA recommends 7 year olds ride in the back seat, but you don't have one. The only other thing they say is make sure the seat belt fits properly.
Drive safe and don't deprive the little darling of the fun of a Vette IMO.
Drive safe and don't deprive the little darling of the fun of a Vette IMO.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 2
From: Tampa FL
I routinely drive my 10 year old to school, who is on the smallish side.
My big fear is what damage the air bag will do to him in the event of a crash. Apparently, most of the damage done to small kids riding in the front is from the air bag more than anything else.
However, I know very little about crash engineering or that sort of thing. It just seems in most of the child-safety literature, they talk a lot about that passenger air bag.
That is what worries me.
My big fear is what damage the air bag will do to him in the event of a crash. Apparently, most of the damage done to small kids riding in the front is from the air bag more than anything else.
However, I know very little about crash engineering or that sort of thing. It just seems in most of the child-safety literature, they talk a lot about that passenger air bag.
That is what worries me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,437
Likes: 4
From: Bucks Co. / outside Philadelphia PA
I routinely drive my 10 year old to school, who is on the smallish side.
My big fear is what damage the air bag will do to him in the event of a crash. Apparently, most of the damage done to small kids riding in the front is from the air bag more than anything else.
However, I know very little about crash engineering or that sort of thing. It just seems in most of the child-safety literature, they talk a lot about that passenger air bag.
That is what worries me.
My big fear is what damage the air bag will do to him in the event of a crash. Apparently, most of the damage done to small kids riding in the front is from the air bag more than anything else.
However, I know very little about crash engineering or that sort of thing. It just seems in most of the child-safety literature, they talk a lot about that passenger air bag.
That is what worries me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 20
From: Elk Grove Village
St. Jude Donor '12
There is actually instructions in the manual with how to fasten a safety seat to the latch system. I looked it up today for my 8 month old. No i wont be taking him in it anytime soon but if there is a emergency, it can be done safely.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,206
Likes: 1,139
From: Santa Rosa Beach FL
"If you have an air bag on-off switch check its position every time you enter your vehicle. One survey shows that 48% of these on-off were incorrectly left on for child passengers under age 13"
source: NHTSA website with link to safercar.gov
"Air bags plus lap-shoulder belts offer the best protection for adults, but not for children and infants. Neither the vehicle's safety belt system nor its air bag system is designed for them"
source: C5 glove box manual (check your C6 to see if it reads the same)
"M/V crashes are the leading cause of death for children 3-14 old"
source: NHTSA website
source: NHTSA website with link to safercar.gov
"Air bags plus lap-shoulder belts offer the best protection for adults, but not for children and infants. Neither the vehicle's safety belt system nor its air bag system is designed for them"
source: C5 glove box manual (check your C6 to see if it reads the same)
"M/V crashes are the leading cause of death for children 3-14 old"
source: NHTSA website
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
A Corvette is just another car, As safe as the next one. What is it with all the wifes telling the husband the kids can't ride in the car? I am guessing the wife is jealous of the car.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
Likes: 167
From: Frederick, MD
My son has been riding in my Vette since he was 3. I just used a regular car seat until this year when he turned 6. Now I just use a booster seat. He is about 3 feet away from the airbag IF it fires accidentally. Unfortunately you are in a tough position because if anything did happen to your child while riding a Vette you'll be screwed.
The Vette is probably safer than most cars out there. It definitely handles and brakes better than most cars. Ask your wife if her car is safer since it probably cannot stop in 105 feet from 0-60, probably closer to 120-140. 15-35 feet is big.
The Vette is probably safer than most cars out there. It definitely handles and brakes better than most cars. Ask your wife if her car is safer since it probably cannot stop in 105 feet from 0-60, probably closer to 120-140. 15-35 feet is big.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: West Point NY
I just got back from a ride with my 4yr old. We went down 7 Lakes Drive from Bear Mtn to Sloatsburg, NY. He loves it. Put a couple towels under the booster, put the seat back, buckle him in, and go!
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
From: Bethesda Maryland