Child car seats in cabs!

[unruliejulie]

I was a bit shocked today when i rang for a taxi. I had my 3 year old son with me and i was inquiring as to whats what with regard to laws on child car seats. I was informed that taxis are exempt! I was very surprised after all the fuss that was made of children being a certain height before they dont need a car seat. It all seems a bit wrong to me, what is the differnce between a domestic car and a taxi as regards to having an accident.?

[unruliejulie]

As i said panicbutton, why don't the cab firms just ask when booking if a seat is required. They would certainly get my business, even if the price was higher cause there is no price limit when it comes to the safety of your child is there? i cant see a problem with firms doing that, no unnecessary carrying of seats.

[unruliejulie]

But bednobs, how can i survive doing my shopping locally when i have a family of 4 to feed? hardly the same as and elderly person living alone is it? I have loads to get and it is twice the price locally with limited choice. I usually go with my husband but he works funny hours which is why i resorted to a taxi today. I have tried internet shopping and half the stuff i ordered wasnt there when it arrived and they substituted it with stuff that was a lot more expensive, my cab however cost me �3.00. Anyway, that is not really the subject here, its about a need for child safety.

[enigma]

A taxi driver is only responsible for ensuring that seatbelt regulations are adhered to for children. For adult passengers , the onus is upon the passenger to ensure that a seatbelt is worn but it beats me why someone wouldn't want to wear a seatbelt.

Bednobs , taxis are not just used for shopping but more importantly , they exist because there is a need for that service , simply because of convenience. If it makes life easier for people and they can afford to pay the fare , then why not ? Going on your argument , there was also a time when women went to wash houses to scrub their clothes with a washboard and mangle and some people had outside toilets. Thankfully we have moved on since then however it never ceases to amaze me how the same generation who bleat out comments like "In my day we had to walk three miles to do all of our shopping with our kids in tow and none of your low floor buses for us" , (As I frequently hear on the bus for daring to take my buggy on) do not seem opposed to modern technology when they use automatic washing machines , dishwashers and tumble driers. Quite simply , sometimes it makes life a lot easier.

[Panic Button]

I have no problem with companies providing them, and I think it good if you advertise by word of mouth the companies that give such good service.

However my point is that to make it compulsory for companies to provide them is impractical, and would dramatically increase their costs and therefore fares.

My childs booster seat would certainly not fit under any car seat. Perhaps we bought the wrong sort.

[dot.hawkes]

you are right bednobs, I remmeber going into town with mum and my two sisters and brother on a saturday, there were 4 of us under 5 yrs old, how mum ever managed to walk that 2miles home with us in tow I cannot imagine, she did have a big pram to push too. It never was possible to get it on a bus though, and taxis were unheard of .

[bednobs]

but i suppose my point is this: if you are concerned about child safety then just dont go in the taxi that dosent have a seat.
I dont see why taxi firms should be made to provide seats to convienience you.

if i'm honest, I dont have any chikldren, so am probably on a different page to you when it comes to caring about children in taxis. I suppose i also get quite grumpy when people are commenting how hard things are for them with children because In my opinion only, children are a lifestyle choice, whereas an old or disabled person dosent really chose to be in that situation. Anyway, i realise im grumpy, so im going to stop commenting, because probably more people have children here than dont, and im about to get lynched lol!
ps dont even get me started on parent/child parking spaces in supermarkets!

pps i dont know who you did your internet shopping with, but on mine you can specify that you dont want any substitutes, or if thet bring you something you dont want, you simply give it back to the driver and you get a refund. Try sainsburys or ocado!

[unruliejulie]

but Bednobs, the whole idea of a taxi service is for its customers convenience isn't it? or am i missing something? Customer service and all that. i work in a hairdressing salon and provide a coffee for my customers, i dont have to but its the little things that count isnt it? Thats what i call good business sense, not taking the attitude of, oh well, i dont have to so i wont. Businesses wouldn't last long with that attitude would they?
This isnt about a lifestyle choice in the slightest, my problem is that the law can is so stern on parents and car seats and yet in taxis, safety is ignored.

I did my Internet shopping at tesco and thats ok taking the option not to have substitutes but where does that leave me then when half my shopping doesnt turn up!!!!!

[unruliejulie]

and can i just say bednobs, im so happy that youn didnt tell me off for posting in the wrong section lol :-)

[bednobs]

aarrgghh, its just not worth the hassle anymore lol :-)

[joko]

there is no need for booster seats.

available are special clips that you attach to the seat belt that makes it suitable for a child.
it brings the higher strap down to the right height for the child.

if you have children, just buy them one each.

found these on ebay

http://search.ebay.co.uk/seat-belt-clips_W0QQf cclZ1QQfclZ4QQfnuZ1QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1

don't know where else you would get them except perhaps car shops or even mothercare type places.

I don't know how easy and quick these are to fit and remove - i,e. if they are portable and practical, but could be worth wading through to find one that would be suitable.

i daresay you could find something else that would do this job around the home - i know someone who carries those plastic ties that the police use as handcuffs, and a clipper to remove - takes seconds to put on and pull tight.


it would be nice if cab firms covered all eventualities, but quite simply they won't - it just isn't practical.

i like the inflatable idea though - i am sure taxis xould carry 3 of them with a fast inflater - thought would an inflatable rubber ring not be sufficient?

[fairycakes69]

You can buy a BubbleBum booster seat, it is a booster seat that inflates, can be sorted in a bag and takes up very little space.