Swiss Tony

Hi,

I'm going to be in Germany & Austria with my 3 kids next month.

From my reading of the rules, car seats are required for those under 12 and under 150cms.

In Germany I can find no details as to whether the kids can sit in the front, but my understanding is that in Austria, under 12s cannot sit in the front at all.

The problem we have is that it's a hire car so I don't know if we'll get three booster seats in the back.

Can anyone confirm if...
1) In Germany an under 12 can ride in the front using a booster
2) In Austria, if we can't get 3 boosters in the back, do I put one child in the front with a booster, or have the eldest in the back without a booster (he doesn't need one in the UK - think he's about 140cms).

Thanks in advance

seawolf

I think riding without booster in the back might be safer than booster in the front.

The reason why children should not be in the front is the airbag.

flyingfkb

This is just about Germany:

In German the rule is under 12 years and under 150cm. If it is older or taller you can use the regular seatbelt.

Yes you can sit your child in a booster seat on the the front passenger seat. In case of an infant in a rear facing booster seat you have to make sure the passenger seat airbag is turned off.

Swiss Tony

caspritz78 thanks for confirming that - you don't by any chance know what the official line is once we cross the border into Austria, do you?

edited to add, I've just found the bmvit info page in English http://www.bmvit.gv.at/en/service/pu...straintsys.pdf and they confirm that kids can sit in the front with a booster seat, or in the back if they're over 135cms without, so long as the belt sits properly.

oliver2002

Yes, I seat my 7 year old in the front with the child car seat. Its allowed in Germany. The airbag remains switched on, it only needs to be switched off for rear facing child car seats.