Is the middle of the backseat always the safest place?

The middle of the back seat may be the furthest point from any impact to a child safety seat however it may not be the best place to fit the child safety seat.  Many of today’s vehicles offer features that may hinder a proper and safe fit in the middle of the back seat.  Most commonly, child safety seats are placed at an outboard seating position.  The major concern of parents of course is a side impact or lateral collision.  A properly installed child safety seat will ride down such a collision and with the addition of rear airbag curtains the safety level is quite high.  The rear facing car seat is often cumbersome in many vehicles.  It can have an adverse effect on the adjustability of the vehicle’s front seat.  For this reason it is commonly installed behind the front passenger seat.  A designed seating arrangement for child safety seating is right to left according to age or middle to rear according to age when two rear seats exist.  Children should not be riding in the front seat until they get their driver’s learners permit but if it is necessary than the seat should be all the way back.  If the child is riding in a car seat (forward facing only) then the airbag should be off if possible.