Do you have to use car seats in taxis?

[Schlomo78]

Bone of contention between me and my mother, I say yes she says no... I don't drive so have had to think about getting taxi's but worried about not having car seat-do you by law have to use one in a taxi? My little one is 13 m. the safety implications are surely no different from a normal car?
cheers in advance

[dot.hawkes]

the law states that up to 3 years in a licensed taxi no restraint is compulsory, but i would take your own or borrow one for safety's sake as opposed to complying with legislation

[Schlomo78]

Thanks Dot, I appreciate it, I have read some of your posts before ,and know you are pretty clued up-i know what you mean about the safety factor tho...
cheers :O)

[THECORBYLOON]

Under Section 9b of The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 1993, the Laws and Regulations regarding seat belts or child restraints do not apply to �licensed taxis and licensed hire cars in which (in each case) the rear seats are separated from the driver by a fixed partition."

I think it would be impractical to insist on folk carrying a child seat on the off-chance of needing a taxi and it would be impractical for taxis to carry all sizes of child seats too.

[THECORBYLOON]

dot reading the same Regulation, it applies to children under 14 in taxis.

[Psychick]

Hi Schlomo, my boyfriend has a car so Ive not yet found myself needing to use a taxi since they have brought this law in but, I have noticed when walking past my local taxi office, they actually keep spare car seats to use in their office. Maybe if you need to call for a taxi, it would be worth asking if they can provide one for your journey?

[natterley]

I was once in a taxi for a short unexpecte journey with my son he was about 1 at the time. and the police stopped us asked us why we didnt have a car seat....so I dont know if it is the law or not.. the taxi driver and firm said no I didnt need one?

xx

[AniseedTwist]

Hi,
This is also a bone of contention between me and my mum! I've tried phoning our local taxi firms and asking them this, and they told me that they don't have car seats for children and that it's not their responsibility by law to provide them. They said that I can provide my own, but that most people don't bother. This shocked and confused me too..

What they suggested seems impractical to me as if I took my own I'd then have to lug it around with me wherever I'm going. And, like you, I don't feel happy about my nearly 2 year old not being in a car seat. So I haven't taken any taxis, which has limited me somewhat as I don't drive either.

[dwaty]

I totlly agree and think taxis should legally provid child seats when needed. i mean they dont cost that much nowadays.
I once got in a taxi with my 3 yr old and my 1yr old and i had my 1 yr old sitting on my knee with the seat belt around the two of us when the cab driver said that its safer if i dont put a belt around my 1yr old and i just hold her.
So if we crashed what would have happened to my daughter ( 1yrold) i think its a disgrase cabs SHOULD provide seats for kids.