Taxi Driver Online

We often get calls for Mpv's to transport women with children in pushchairs. Either the kids are asleep or the mother is too idle to get the kid out. How do we (or the driver) stand if the vehicle has an accident? Does the driver insist the child is strapped in to a seat?

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Life? Don't talk to me about life!
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Kiddy has to be strapped in properly if a seat is available. you cant just throw in baby and pram as a oner...and you as the driver are responsible for children under 14 years of age...

heres more:
all children under 3 years old must use the correct child seat when travelling in any car or goods vehicle (except in the rear of a taxi and private hire vehicles if a child seat is not available)

children aged 3 years and under 12 must use the correct child seat/booster seat/booster cushion when travelling in cars or goods vehicles until they reach about 4' 5" (135cms). Few exceptions are permitted

taller children and all those aged 12 and over need to use adult belts

rear-facing baby seats must not be used in seats with an active front air-bag. There are some specific practical exemptions - for taxis, emergency vehicles, and (for children aged 3 and over) journeys over a short distance in an unexpected necessity

in mini-buses, buses and coaches, seated passengers aged 14 years and above must use seat belts where they are fitted. We will be consulting on further regulations which will be made as soon as possible requiring children under 14 years to use seat belts in these vehicles.

on buses, flights, holidays, trips and most things


avoid children..

Bottom line is:

You are responsible for the under 14s in your cab - not their parents.

On your own heads be it.

Personally I would refuse to carry a child in a buggy.

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having had 5......




anyway, exactly how do you transport a newborn thingy, kiddy, nappy-filler


you cant be expected to have your own child seat, and a baby carrier, and a booster seat, or can you?

A responsible parent will have the appropriate seat for an infant that small with them. Unfortunately not all parents are responsible.

A taxi isn't required to have all the neccesary seats for all the possible combinations of children we may have to pick up.

Working nights, I don't have this problem very often, but I do have a seat in my Sharan which will cater for a child of any age over 3 months.
If there are more children and they can sit up, I normally have them use the adult belts (with the diagonal part behind them if it is anywhere near their neck).
Remember that a baby still counts as a passenger, even if they don't use a seat.
Don't get caught overloading
Ask your LO or local cops if you are unsure.

I would not allow a baby in a buggy. Period.

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did 8 years as an ambulance (PTS) subbie, used to borrow a seat from the local ambulance station when ch chch ch.....CHildren were to be carried




having said that, had some funny times and some very sad ones too

I suspect dozens more buggies go into WAVs than wheelchairs in an average month, and I suspect most, if not all, go in unbelted.

In a WAV, with a screen, you should be able to put the onus on the parent. But in such litigious days who knows.

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IDFIMH

This question was asked of a traffic cop when I had my metro cab, he said that as the child was already strapped in the buggy they would be safer in them than on the seat as long as the buggy was rear facing with the handles against the bulk head partition

He's probably right but that doesn't make it legal

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

WAV's are for the purpose of disabled wheelchair users only, children & babies should not be carried in a pram or pushchair.
I have had numerous arguments with passengers wanting to put the pushchair in the back with child strapped in.
Due to other drivers being too lazy to get out of the cab and help fold the buggy's down and put them in the front.
I approached the local authority and a police officer and was informed that only transportable wheelchairs should be carried with passengers in them.
Taxi's do not have to provide booster seats etc they are exempt from this law.
And whilst on the subject of seat belts, you do not have to wear a seat belt in the rear of a taxi with a PARTITION although I would always advise all passengers to wear them.

IMO you do, it's just that the driver isn't held responsible if folks don't.

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IDFIMH

Passengers in the rear of a taxi with a partition are exempt from wearing seat belts, neither the passenger or the driver can be fined for not wearing one

If you get a jobs worth copper he'll most likely do you for having a un-secured pushchair in you vehicle.

A few years ago our Council had a right purge on the above issue, the drivers were told to fold the pushchairs down and secure the baby the appropriate way.

They can if they are available.

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IDFIMH