21.10. Is it mandatory to deactivate the front airbag for this seat when installing a child restraint system on the front seat?
UAЧи є обов’язковим відключення фронтальної подушки безпеки цього місця для сидіння при встановленні дитячої утримуючої системи на передньому сидінні?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns passive safety and the proper transportation of children in a car. It checks understanding of how to combine a child restraint system with the vehicle’s safety features, since improper use of the front airbag can pose a real threat to a child’s life during an accident or sudden braking.
The question belongs to the section of the traffic rules regarding the transportation of passengers and children, specifically the requirements of clause 21.13. The general rule is that child restraint systems are not installed on first-row seats. An exception allows placing a seat on the front seat for a child under three years old only if it is installed facing against the direction of travel, and in this case, the front airbag for that seat (if present) must be deactivated.
The analysis of answer options in the theoretical exam comes down to a direct rule: the “yes” option is correct, because clause 21.13 directly requires deactivation of the front airbag when a seat is installed facing backward on the front seat. The “no” option is incorrect, as it ignores the mandatory condition of the exception: if the airbag deploys, it opens with great force and can hit the child seat, increasing the risk of injury to the child.
Clause 21.13
Child restraint systems are installed on seats except for the first row. In the case of transporting a child under three years old in a passenger car in the front row seat, it is allowed to install child restraint systems that are installed against the direction of travel, with the mandatory deactivation of the front airbag of this seat (if available).
Application: if a child restraint system is installed on the front seat against the direction of travel (for a child under 3 years old), the front airbag of this seat must be deactivated if it is present.
That is, the correct answer is "Yes.", given that according to the Traffic Rules, when installing a child restraint system against the direction of travel on the front row seat (for a child under 3 years old), it is mandatory to deactivate the front airbag of this seat (if available).
According to the general rule established by paragraph 21.13 of the Traffic Rules, child restraint systems should be placed on seats that are not in the first row. This is done so that the child is at a safer distance from the front part of the vehicle and passive safety elements.
At the same time, the Traffic Rules provide an exception: if a child under the age of three is being transported, it is allowed to install a child restraint system on the front seat, but only if it is positioned against the direction of travel. In this position, the child is better protected during sudden braking or a collision.
The key requirement of this exception is as follows: if the child seat on the front seat is installed facing against the direction of travel, the front airbag for this seat must be deactivated (if the airbag is present). The reason is simple: when the front airbag deploys, it opens forward with great force and can strike the back of the child seat, creating a danger for the child.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Yes," because according to paragraph 21.13 of the Traffic Rules, when installing a child restraint system on the front seat against the direction of travel, it is mandatory to deactivate the front airbag for this seat (if present).