Taxi Driver Online

Re; Seat Belts
Thanks for your e-mail forwarded by Pippa Brown. The Statutory Instrument No1892 about seat belts is now online at http://www.00si.dov.uk/si/si2006120061892.htm

However, I would not recommend that anyone spends too much time studying the new
regulations. They amend earlier regulations and therefore are not readable as a stand-alone document. They also need to be considered with section 15 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 as amended by SI 3105 of 1992. In addition, there is more to come in the form of another SI relating to children in front seats which must use a different parliamentary approval process and therefore is still being finalised. They are also intended to come into force on 18 September.



The exception in licensed taxi/private hire cars is that in cases where there is no child restraint in these vehicles:-

- a child under 3 years may travel unrestrained in the rear: and

- a child 3 years to 135 cms in height must use an adult belt and travel in the rear.

Children up to 135 cms in height may only travel in the front seat of any vehicle if they use the correct child seat/booster.

Drivers remain responsible for making sure that passengers under 14 years use seat belts/child seats/boosters as required.

There is no requirement on licensed taxi/private hire car operators to provide child seat/boosters.

Hope this is helpful.


Tim Norman
Road User Safety Division Dept for Transport
LONDON SW1 P 4DR 020 7944 2043