← Rules for drivers and motorcyclists
Rule 101: Baby seats and frontal airbags
Legal requirement — says MUST
Seat belts and child restraints (rules 99 to 102)
A rear-facing baby seat MUST NOT be fitted into a seat protected by an active frontal airbag, as in a crash it can cause serious injury or death to the child.
Laws RTA 1988 sects 14 & 15, MV(WSB)R, MV(WSBCFS)R & MV(WSB)(A)R 2006
Why the capitals matter. The Highway Code writes a rule in capitals — MUST or MUST NOT — when it is backed by law, so breaking it is a criminal offence. The rules that do not use capitals are advice.
5 theory test questions on this rule
From the DVSA revision question bank. These are not the questions asked in the real theory test. Each one shows the answer, the explanation, and our own note on why every other option is not it.
Car
- You want to put a rear-facing baby seat on the front passenger seat. What must you do if the passenger seat is protected by a frontal airbag? Safety and your vehicle
- You have to make an unexpected journey. You're carrying a 5-year-old child on the back seat of your car. They're under 1.35 metres (4 feet 5 inches) tall. How should you seat them if a correct child restraint is not available? Safety and your vehicle
- You're carrying a child under 3 years old in your car. Which restraint is suitable for a child of this age? Vehicle loading