Asked to drive DC in my Smart Car

[Anonymous]

I recently bought a Smart Car after years of just riding the train. You can imagine my surprise when MB asked me to drive DC in my vehicle. I assumed it would be out of the question because we had not negotiated for it in the first place but also because there is not a back seat. DC is 2.5 and has to sit in a car seat. After I told her it would surely be illegal she got online and discovered the passenger seat is fitted with a strap specially designed to hold a car seat. She insists I am wrong, that it is only advised not to put children in the front seat but not the law. I sort of don't care what the law is. It was just an easy answer at the time. Everything I have ever read says no, not ok to put children in the front seat.

Am I overreacting?

[Anonymous]

No. You are not over reacting. Where does she want you to drive him to? Were you getting him to those same places before you got your car (either in the NF car or via public transportation?) Or is it a situation where now that she sees you have a car, she wants you to take him new places?

[Anonymous]

No, you're not overreacting. That's ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

not at all. if you didn't negotiate it in the first place and it's not in the contract, you shouldn't be expected to drive unless you want to, regardless of the seats in the car. I am a nanny that drives kids in my car but would NEVER drive a child in my front seat, regardless of whatever information is found online. It isn't something I feel comfortable with and if you aren't comfortable driving a child in the front seat (or in any other seat) you should not do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. You are not over reacting. Where does she want you to drive him to? Were you getting him to those same places before you got your car (either in the NF car or via public transportation?) Or is it a situation where now that she sees you have a car, she wants you to take him new places?

Twice she asked because she was running late and said "It would be nice if you could drive to the doctor/family member''s graduation rather then having me be even more late."

No, those are not places I typically drive but will ride with her to help out while they are there. That means she drives from work to the house and then we go together to the location or if it is a morning appointment we go from the house and then she brings us back home and then leaves for work. It is a lot of running around but until recently that was the only option and no one thought to complain about it. We have never had a conversation about me driving because there was no other car. Also, it only happened every couple months that we had to do that much running around.

Now, it's like every task that involves driving is a point of debate so it seems as though she needs a lot of driving support when really we rarely would have had these things come up before.

[Anonymous]

The bottom line sounds to me like you just don't feel comfortable driving your charge around in your car and your boss should respect that.

If she doesn't, then that is her fault.

Since it wasn't in the original contract, then you are not obligated nor should you be pressured into doing it now.

[Anonymous]

I would not do it. You can technically put a car seat in the front if the air back is turned off. The special strap is probably for the tether. As a parent, I would not be ok with a child in the front in a smart car. In other countries, they do put kids in the front but they have airbag switches and specially designed seats. I would only do it in an emergency.

[Anonymous]

How did millions of us survive riding in the front seat, without seat belts or car seats?

[Anonymous]

I understand being nervous about it but its not really your choice to make , it is her child. Her way or the highway

[Anonymous]

OP here. I would have no problem driving DC in an emergency. That seems like a reasonable thing to do in life or death circumstances. However, if MB was two hours late to her own wedding I would still not put DC in my front seat.

After reading the few comments here, I think Monday I will have this talk with MB. I hope she will accept that my own comfort is what will dictate my choice of what I allow to happen in my own car. This will probably spill over into how I use my car for work in general. So, it will be quite an important talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand being nervous about it but its not really your choice to make , it is her child. Her way or the highway

It may be her child but it is OP's car. If anything were to happen while they were driving, OP would be at fault. I'm pretty sure you don't get to use "my boss made me" as an excuse to get out of a fine...or worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did millions of us survive riding in the front seat, without seat belts or car seats?

Traffic density was lower, car speeds were indescribably lower, driver responsibility level was higher.

Don't play dumb for the sake of an argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did millions of us survive riding in the front seat, without seat belts or car seats?

They hadn't invented the smart phone yet?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did millions of us survive riding in the front seat, without seat belts or car seats?

Ignorance? No internet to easily access crash statistics? Or see pictures from national media of dead babies on the road?

[Anonymous]

OP, call your insurance company first thing Monday and ask them what their policy is on children in car seats in the front seat. Ask them to outline policies and potential penalties in an email. Print the email out and give it to your MB when you talk to her.

And this weekend print out research against front seat use for kids, as well as stories on the results of kids who were in front seats during accidents.

Good luck!