Taxi drivers

[andrewlee]

Why do they never wear seat belts, here or abroad?   Do they have a legal exemption, and if so, why?

[Paul22118]

When the seat belt legislation was proposed there was the usual lobbying and canvassing of opinions that one gets with all new proposals.

The London Hackney Carriage lobby is very strong and they successfully argued to be  formally exempted drivers!.

Agree or not - understand or not - they were successful and are exempted from wearing seat belts.

[loola]

I'm a private hire driver in Wales and the rules state that when we are carrying passengers then we are exempt from wearing a seatbelt - this is for safety purposes as a possible attacker sitting behind you could use the seatbelt to restrain you, although we must wear a seatbelt when we are empty. I know that by not wearing a seatbelt is also a safety issue due to the fact that there would be a greater chance of injury in the unlikely event of an accident! It's upto the driver to decide.

[Dakota]

andrewlee - that was a HUGE generalisation you just made there.  My father is a taxi driver and ALWAYS wears a seatbelt.

[andrewlee]

Point taken, Dakota!   But I don't think I have ever seen a taxi driver here or abroad wearing a belt!   I suspect the majority don't, and having an aunt who went through a windscreen many years ago before the wearing of seatbelts became compulsory, I worry about their safety

[Dakota]

Fair point andrewlee, but it was your quote "never" that got me.  Come up to Aberdeen, I'll take you out on the raz and when we get a taxi home, we'll monitor their seatbelt useage :p

[andrewlee]

You're on!  

[Dakota2]

You'll find me in Chatterbank :)

p.s. I am temporarily banned as Dakota for being a bit over zealous with my responses in a game yesterday, hence the Dakota2!!

[edd2blue]

i`m a Aberdeenshire taxi driver i`v never seen any TAXI DRIVER WEAR A BELT NEVER MIND A SEAT BELT WE ARE ALL OBESE ( IT`S AW THE FISH SUPPER`S I THINK)