Yes, it is. All air bags (frontal or side) are supplemental safety devices and are intended to work best in combination with safety belts. Therefore, NHTSA recommends that:
- ALL children use a safety restraint appropriate for their age and size (this could be a safety seat, booster seat or adult safety belt).
- Children aged 12 and younger are safest sitting in the rear seat properly restrained.
- NEVER place a rear-facing infant seat in the front seat of a vehicle with a front passenger air bag.
- To minimize injury risks, NHTSA recommends that children not lean or rest against chest-only or head/chest combination SABs.
- NHTSA has not seen any indication of risks to children from current roof-mounted head SABs.
NHTSA continues to closely monitor the real world performance of side airbags involving children and adults. You can read additional information about side airbags on SaferCar.gov.
