Interesting question... A motorcylce safety class instructor told me to always try to enter an intersection with a vehicle on my right, to help protect from cars running a stop sign or red light from the right. Logic was that cars coming from your left are easier to see and you can react to them, whereas cars coming from your right are usually more difficult to see, and possibly shielded from view.

I guess you also have exposure to the right side whenever making a left turn across traffic.

Another benefit of having the child seat behind you (driver) is that Mom sitting in the right front has easier access and sight of the kid behind you rather than directly behind her.

Fun times having two little ones. I remember them well.

The auto club or the NHTSB will have that data. IINM the rear right is statistically the safest for more reasons than just accident survival.A Good place to search

the inside!

just kidding, i think i read that the drivers side is safer. most side impacts are from you turning left. right turns are wayyyy safer.

It seems to me that most people protect their side most often and so most seem to be from the right as Vash said. turning across a lane of oncoming traffic or getting t-boned from the right.

But that's not hard data. Let us know what you find out.

I'm trying to find the publication where I read that having the child in view of the driver (right rear) reduced the time the driver was distracted while checking on the kid.
The opinion that the left rear makes a lot of sense also. As a parent I allways prefered to have my kids on the right. But again thats just personal preference and no hard data to rely on.

in most drunk driving accidents, it always seems that everybody is killed except the drunk.

I say the passenger side is safer.

Planning on having a "favorite"?

Here's some NHTSB Data
Most everything seems to be front seat vs. back seat. nothing on left vs. right.

The passenger side in the rear seems a whole lot safer in my opinion if you are making a right turn, the only thing in between you is the curb and the turn. However, left turns and someone running a red light is the major thing to worry about. I know buy a McLaren or for practical seating purposes , an SUV with 3rd row seating and put one kid in the middle in each seat.

CONGRATULATIONS WAYNE!!!! :D

E

LOL, thank you for the logical sequence....

Not quite exactly what you are looking for, but I believe it is helpful anyway.

Comes from here.

http://users.rowan.edu/~gabler/publications/Ircobi2000.pdf

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1133924451.jpg

Wayne,

This study is not exactly what you're looking for (hiway rather than surface streets), but it's relevant:

http://www.unc.edu/~khattak/990975paper.PDF

For highway crashes in this North Carolina study the frequency of left side crashes roughly equaled the frequency of right side impacts. So go with what's most convenient for you.

If both are equel, go with the passenger side for easy acess to them and easier ro see them in the mirror or go with the driver side for easy access when you buckle the lil bugger in.

I think the passenge side might be safer if there is no passenger up front at the same time. If the rails holding the seats ever gave way the driver could be tossed around. However unless you have an old VW Beetle or rusty car, this should not be a problem.

Most parents set up little mirrors to keep an eye on the little ones in the back. Kind of hard to do if the kid is right behind you.

We keep our youngest on the passenger side - easier for the driver to pop a binky back in the mouth, etc. Also easier to see and check on 'em using the rear view mirror.

From my extensive experience with one-car, driver-at-fault accidents while rallying, 90% of things I hit were on the right side.

Most cars do not roll over in accidents, there for the safest side is the top. Yes, just strap the kids up top.http://www.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/angel.gif