Taxi Driver Online

had a lady and her three year old daughter in back of the car yesterday
lady gets in and puts on her own seatbelt then sits her daughter on her lap.
i asked her if she would please put the child in a seatbelt , she refused stating it would be more dangerous because the child was to small.

how would i stand in the eyes of the law?

page 6 and page 11
http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:yb ... =clnk&cd=3

http://www.northants.police.uk/default. ... d=13317#12

Not only do you see all night long with PH and saloon Hacks driving around without seatbelts, most of the time with passengers not wearing seat belts, don't some of you want to live a bit longer. I think its a most dangerous practise not to be seatbelted, I do not move till all are in seatbelts, including myself every trip
if a punter says don't want to wear one then its a no go situation

On Thursday we had a saloon Hack cab involved in an accident, 30mph, then a joy rider smacked into them, the driver is off work now, still in hospital on breathing ventilator, crushed ribs, lungs, and knackered hips, now don't you think his injury would or maybe been lesser if he had worn seat belts, same for his passengers who were all badly hurt, also no seatbelts on.

If you feel that it's not safe for you to pull away, then don't.

I fully understand it's easier said than done, but if it does go tits up, it will be you who carries the can.

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IDFIMH

You have a duty of care towards yourself as well as your passengers,you dont excercise it compensation will be slashed.
EDUCATE AGITATE ORGANISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

i thought that seat belt laws regarding children did'nt apply to taxis or PH vehicles as it is'nt practical to be carrying baby/child seats. i know i read it somewhere but cant think where.....am i wrong? please correct me if i am wrong

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NO SURRENDER!

Summary of the Seat Belt Laws for Cars, Taxis and Private Hire Cars

Front seat Rear seat Who is responsible?
Driver Seat belt MUST be worn if available. Driver
Children under 3 years old Correct child restraint MUST be used. Correct child restraint MUST be used

If one is not available in a taxi, then the child may travel unrestrained in the rear Driver
Children aged 3 and above, until they reach EITHER their 12th birthday OR 135cm in height Correct child restraint MUST be used Where seat belts fitted, correct child restraint MUST be used

MUST use adult belt if the correct child restraint is not available in three scenarios:

- in a in a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle ;
- for a short distance for reason of unexpected necessity;
- two occupied child restraints prevent fitment of a third.

In addition, a child 3 and over may travel unrestrained in the rear seat of a vehicle if seat belts are not available Driver
Child over 1.35 metres, or 12 to 13 years Seat belt MUST be worn if available Seat belt MUST be worn if available Driver
Adult passengers (ie 14 years and over) Seat belt MUST be worn if available Seat belt MUST be worn if available

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Beware of that grey area within the new law re Car Seats etc not applyingin Taxi's because there is also a bit that states that the "Driver is not responsible for children .............. behind the partition" if your in an area that still allows Hack saloons then err on the side of caution.

Personally, I have refused and will continue to carry passengers including children that are not wearing the appropriate restraints. I don't care if they are kids or adults; they belt up or get out. I really don't fancy being killed or seriously injured by some person in the back who thinks he's above the law being propelled forward and between 30 and 60 times his own body weight in the the event of a 15mph shunt and if at any time the LA objects to this it will make a very intersting Court Case.

If something goes wrong, there's an accident it will you that would be up infront of a judge on manslaughter charges,

a truck driver can be had for carrying unsecured load, no doubt the law could be bent that we also as taxi drivers could be had for carrying unsecured load as in people.

yes same here, good on you, I picked up a LO awhile ago, I said seatbelts on please, just as we was setting off, he said to me, you can't say that, say what I said, you can't tell the public to put seatbelts on, the LO said, I said I just told you, he said you must take them even if they don't put belts on, you are covered by the seatbelt stickers,its up to them, I told him if people don't put belts on in my taxi they don't go, he speiled something about you can't refuse to take them even if they don't put belts on

I told him my life was more important, no belts no go, take it to court, never heard from him again

Yes compensation to injured parties will be reduced to 50% of the claim via insurance, for accidents without seatbelt on, to get the remainder no doubt the solicitors of the injured parties will try and make a further claim from you personally

Its the only way, seatbelts on, most of you are now driving vehicles with safety features, ie Airbags, the seatbelts work with airbags, puts you in the right position to meet the airbag coming out in an accident, remember an airbag exploding in an accident without seatbelts on can do seriously injury to yourself
FFS put your belt on every trip, is it worth it for a few quid not to belt up

I got talking about seatbelts on the Rank today and this thread raised some issues for thought - in this area Hacks and PH with pax are not allowed to wear a seatbelt as it can be used as a weapon against the driver; and that the driver will need quick access in the event of an incident ocurring in the vehicle.

Locally PH drivers have to wear a seatbelt when not on a job, same as can't use the bus lanes etc. so for a laugh I jumped in a PH this evening and didn't put it on, drove past several Police cars and the various Christmas Traffic patrols and not a tug did I get! For a laugh I even drove down a Bus Lane empty with the meter on (local PH trick) and again nothing.

Personally I do wear a seatbelt all the time but please regardless of what your LO says you are allowed / not allowed just put it on and keep safe - we really don't want to read about your death on here.