Hello,

I have been posting on the forum for advice with moving to CH in anticipation of being offered a job. Well I have been offered the job at what I believe a decent salary. I have seen enough to scare me away from bring a car into CH from the USA. really calculating the numbers, saving a few thousand dollars is not worth the hassle.

So I have been narrowing choices of cars down. I am considering buying one 4 seat car (Audi A3 or BMW 3 Series) and one other car. The 4 seater would be for the family and the other car I just need to get to and from work. My choices have become very extreme. One choice is a Boxster and one is Smart (do I want style or just basic transportion?).

Anyways, if I decided on a Smart, there woudl be times when I would have to take the better car (i.e. trips into Germany for work, etc) and she would be stuck with a Smart.

I understand that child seats must go in the rear seat. However, what are the laws reguarding a child seat (for a 4 year old) in a Smart? Are they allowed in a Smart? Is the Smart safe with a Child seat?

TIA
-Dana

TBH, I don't know what the laws are but I wouldn't want my daughter being driven around in a Smart car. They always appear unsubstantial to me as if they were made out of sardine cans.

The law in a nutshell:
Children under 7 years must travel in a child seat, and from 7 to 12 either a child seat or a seat belt is required. The law doesn't state where in the car the child seat must be, but the Touring Club recommends the backseat. If it is in the front seat, the front airbag should be deactivated (a side airbag is less dangerous).

The two standard methods of deactivation are either permanently by a garage, or manually by the driver, indicated by a control lamp on the dashboard.

Also according to the TCS, the Smart company was among the first to introduce a proprietary child seat system that automatically disables the airbag every time the child seat is mounted. Might be worth considering, depending on price and alternatives.

I had my boy with me in a Smart for a couple of years before we came to Switzerland - he was a much happier passenger as a result of being able to see out of the front and sitting next to me. It's the perfect car for pottering from A-B and I would recommend it, as well as the Smart car child seat system, although it's quite pricey . Would have one still, were it not for the recent addition to the family!!

My husband was going to buy a smart as a second car for him to go to work, and the dealer told him not to buy a smart, if something goes wrong with them they are very expensive to repair.

Exactly what Nathu said

we are going on holiday in france in a campervan...is my 5 year old allowed to sit in the front seat on his booster chair next to the driver? the camper is a ford pick up - so there is only 2 seats?

So there is just the two of you travelling? I envy you! As for the booster seat: Since it's legal in Switzerland, the French can't (and will) not oppose. Have fun - I'll be there, too!

I'm closing this Thread as the law has changed. Newer information here.