Taxi Driver Online

THE JOURNAL (Newcastle, UK)

September 20, 2006 Wednesday

HEADLINE: Boosters offer for taxi pupils

BYLINE: By Ross Smith, The Journal

Council bosses in Northumberland last night decided they will pay for booster seats for children who travel to school by taxi. The move follows criticism that they had failed to put a policy in place ahead of new laws on car safety which came into effect on Monday.

Taxis are exempt from rules which mean children under 12 must use an appropriate car seat or booster cushion, but councils can bring in their own policies for their contractors.

Northumberland County Council pays for children to use taxis where they qualify for free transport, but it would not be cost-effective to provide a bus. Now parents who request a seat for their children will be given them free of charge if they meet the guidelines of being under 4ft 5ins.

It is thought about 800 children will be affected by yesterday's decision, which will apply from Monday.

John Nicholson, the council's executive director for community and environmental services, said: "We have decided that parents who want these extra safety measures for the protection of their child can request booster seats and we will provide them at no cost.

"Taxis are exempt but the Government have left it up to councils whether to implement the new laws on school taxis. There has been a wide range of responses up and down the country.

"As a council, we have also been pro-active in making parents aware that they must abide by the new rules in cars."

Conservative opposition group leader Alex Kerr, who had earlier criticised the council for being slow to act on the new laws, welcomed the decision.

He said: "I'm delighted they have now come up with the rational answer that they've got."
.............................

It's all well and good the council stumping up the money to pay for the seats, but WTF is the driver going to do with it when the kids are in school.

I suppose he could leave it at the school, but I doubt the schools would be happy with 100s of different car seats dumped there.

_________________
IDFIMH

Not 100s of car booster seats, more like 10-20, all the cabs/taxis dont drop at same school. But different schools around the county....

Get blow up one's! Then get the kids to blow em up each time they use them, they'll be to knackered to mess around in the back of the car then!!

There are many special needs schools down here that have 100s of kids, and they all go in by taxi or PH.

_________________
IDFIMH

Only one's that live in remote parts, i'm thinking that mini buses dont need booster seats?? or correct me..

Not yet.

_________________
IDFIMH

Gateshead's LEA have been providing car seats when required for many years.

B. Lucky

_________________
"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

And Lincolnshire CC have always provided seats and booster cushions, without any problems. Stop doing school contracts if it's too much bother... or get a REAL TAXI?

_________________
Former taxi driver

Just seen the seats that Scottish Borders are giving away???? they don't look big enough, what is the point of getting free seats, when they come in different sizes, and must be matched up to the kids, I can see some claims here, and possibly the insurance will not pay out if the seat is the wrong size