What is the main reason small children should ride in the backseat of a vehicle?

The primary reason small children should ride in the backseat of a vehicle is related to their safety concerning airbag deployment. In the event of a crash, airbags are designed to protect adults and older children, but they can pose a significant risk to young children, especially if they are positioned in the front seat. When an airbag deploys, it can inflate with great force and potentially lead to severe injuries or even death for small children, as it is designed for adults and not for the smaller stature of a child.

By placing children in the backseat, the risk of harm from airbags is eliminated, as they will not be exposed to the force of an airbag deploying in a front-end collision. This safety measure is supported by various studies and recommendations from safety organizations, which advocate for keeping children in the back seat until they reach a certain age and size, typically around 13 years old.

The context of the other options highlights important aspects but does not capture the specific dangers associated with front-seat airbag deployment that threaten small children. While factors like being less likely to be ejected from a vehicle or preventing injuries from dashboard strikes are relevant to vehicle safety, they do not directly address the critical risk posed by airbags, which is why the correct