[427TJ]

Here's how I cruise with my 4-year old son. (He was sick that day so he looks wiped-out in the photo.) I fasten his car seat in with the lap belt and off we go. No air bag so no ticket. My wife wasn't thrilled the first time I did this with The Boy until I poited out that typical soccer-moms rat-race all over town in SUVs and minivans, cell phones glued to their ears, mouths running full-speed, several kids strapped in, gas pedal down and at least 10 mph over the limit. I told my wife: "That's who I'm afraid of." Besides, how did so many kids survive before the onset of the modern era of safety hysteria? I grew up sitting up on my knees in the passenger seat of my mom's '66 Falcon, no belt. Yeah, a few close calls but life is full of them.

It's a compromise. Fasten the kids in and drive carefully. Oh, and have fun!