4 ms·

This is a really big point I've never considered! I don't have kids, so I'm definitely coming from a place of ignorance. On planes and trains I never see car s

This is a really big point I've never considered! I don't have kids, so I'm definitely coming from a place of ignorance. On planes and trains I never see car seats used, which I assume is because crashes are so unlikely on those modes of transit. If self driving cars are as safe as, or safer than, a trip on a train, would it still be a concern?

spiralpolitik 9y ago
Car seats are now encouraged for planes for < 18 months. The worry isn't crashes per say but jerks and sudden stops on take off and landing, and turbulence. https://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/ https://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/ It's a PITA to use due to the huge variety of seat dimensions and car seat sizes and no standardized latching system for plane seats.
ohkaiby 9y ago
^ Parent w/ a <1 yr old. Car seats aren't used on planes because a car seat would take up a seat, which costs money. Kids under 2 yrs are free if they sit on your lap at most/all US airlines, so parents would just swap lap-sitting for their kid(s). Not sure about trains. I assume that if/when cars are as safe as a plane/train, adults wouldn't even need seat belts but you'd still need a carseat for an infant/toddler because it also stabilizes the child's position. Kids <6mo have no neck control. Kids <10mo can't reliably sit up for long durations. An autodriving car might be safe, but it'd probably still need to make emergency stops / turns. That'd be real bad if there were no carseats.