What safety measure should you take if a vehicle has an active airbag?

The recommendation to avoid placing rear-facing seats in a position with an active airbag is grounded in safety principles regarding how airbags deploy and the risks they pose in a collision. When an airbag inflates, it deploys with tremendous force, meant to protect adults but potentially causing serious injury to a child seated in a rear-facing car seat if placed in a front seat or within range of an active airbag.

Rear-facing car seats are designed to protect a child's head, neck, and spine in the event of a collision by cradling and distributing forces away from these vulnerable areas. However, if this seating position is in front of an active airbag, the airbag can strike the rear-facing seat with significant force, leading to catastrophic injuries.

In contrast, the other options do not directly address the dangers posed by an active airbag when it comes to child passenger safety. Disabling the airbag might not always be feasible or recommended, especially in vehicles where airbags are integral to the overall safety system. Ensuring a child is in a booster seat does not negate the danger posed by the airbag and is applicable primarily for older children. Using down-facing car seats is not a recognized standard and may also not provide adequate protection in certain situations.