Taxi Driver Online

I recently raised a question with ROSPA regarding mums wishing to leave their child in the pushchair when travelling in a Taxi/Private Hire Vehicle that was a WAV. The response is as follows:
The following Q&A is from the Department for Transport on the new law:
What about travelling in Licensed Taxis?
It is impractible to expect the right child seat or booster to be available in a Licensed Taxi or Private Hire Vehicle.
under 3s may travel unrestrained but in the rear only:
those 3 years and above must use an adult belt in the rear seat only.
Remember that a child up to 135cms in a front seat of any vehicle must use the correct child seat or booster.
The Driver of the vehicle is responsible for seat belt wearing by children under 14 years ( EXCEPT IN TAXIS WITH FIXED PARTITIONS)
If the PRAM has an "intergrated system" it would be best to put the child seat in the seatbelt and put the frame in the back of the Taxi.
The author of this o'k'd the publication of the above. (www.rospa.com)
PRAMS HAVE BEEN TESTED IN TAXIS WITH THE WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINT AND HAVE COLLAPSED ON IMPACT

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pussycat

I suppose the issue of keeping children in pushchairs or prams in purpose built or WAV's is the same as the issues with securing wheelchairs.

I can recall every constabulary in the North East of england advising number 2 region that they believed the driver would be committing an offence if they carried a load unsecured.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

This is something that has always bothered me and there does not appear to be any clear guidance.

The amount of mothers and fathers for that matter that will take chance in putting their children in a vehicle unsecured is amazing.

I do not know if I am doing right, but I always insist on them taking the child out of the pram/pushchair. For them to fasten the seat belt around themselves and the child that they are now holding. My biggest fear in just wheeling them in, is that in the event of a collision that the child and pram/pushchair would just fly around. The child could be injured and guess who is going to get the blame.

I do not feel that enough thought or research has gone into the safety aspect.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

I carry probably about 5 or 6 prams and pushchairs a day on average often requesting my vehicle because they want to leave the child in the pushchair but often if i suggest securing the pushchair the answer is no thats not neccessary i'll hold it

I usually take the attitude of letting things be but generally take extra care and take corners junctions slower to allow for the unsecured pushchair

maybe leaving yourself wide open to maybe a prosecution or a claim in the event of an accident

Since my vehicle is a wav with a screen then as i understand it it is the parents responsibilty not mine but there is always the possiblity far more likely though to hurt my back lifting them in or out !!

I do think on this issue we need proper guidance from the powers that be.

But maybe they want us to use our common sense, and carrying a little one in a buggy in the back of a cab is something that drivers do, but maybe they shouldn't.

In other words the powers that be are quite happy for us to a) take the stick if we don't take the buggies, or b) to take the stick when thinks go tits up.

Heads you lose, tails you lose.

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IDFIMH

page 8 from the AA from tests at 19mph

http://tinyurl.com/37emsc

Inmy vehicle if you face the buggy backwards you can put the seat belt from one of the tip up seats around it totally secure because in the event of a front impact the buggy will be up against the seat anyway i.e. no where for it to be thrown and in a sideways impact the belt will protect the buggy from tipping over and ejecting the child

the problem is that most mums wont allow that to happen and insist on the buggy facing forward with them holding it

This sounds very dangerous to me. If you have an accident and the small child is fastened in front of an adult, you will have the weight of the adult pushing the child into the belt. On airplanes small children are fastened in front of an adult with a special belt that is attached to but independant of the adult belt.

BE CAREFULL

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Grandad,

I hear what you say, but I do not see it being any different to a seat pushing into the back of anyone as both are anchored.

I am not trying to argue against you, just trying to get some sense out of it all. I share the same views as sussex on this one.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

NO NO NO the adult passenger is not anchored. The belt is anchored but in an accident the passengers inertia will push forward onto the child and subsequently the belt with a force of several tons causing serious injury to the child if not cutting them in half. Seat belts are designed for 1 passenger not 2.

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Grandad,

In Sefton we do not allow children in pushchairs inside taxis, the child and pushchair are placed on to a trailer that is towed behind the vehicle.

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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!

Why use a trailer. The pushchair has it's own wheels.

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Grandad,

Unfortunately they go faster than some of our Taxis , it then becomes embarrassing

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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!