View Full Version : Taxi Troubles
Okay, I tried to get a taxi today and nobody would let me take my DD in a cab without a babyseat. Now I have been using the same taxi service since she was born and they tell me different things all the time. One day they will tell me that after 12 months of age I can take her on my lap with a seat belt round us both. Another day they tell me she has to be 3 yrs or older to do that!!!
I started putting her on my lap because I got in a taxi once and he said he wouldnt/doesn't have to put the baby seat in because she is too old!!:eek:
Now i find out this is rubbish!
Can someone please tell me what age she doesn't need a baby seat in a taxi?? Does anyone know?
Some of the taxi drivers have said that the laws change all the time.
Can anyone help?
And just on another note, taxi drivers around Chatswood are so rude and completely take advantage of women with children IMO. I get charged $22 for a fare that will cost my DH $15.:mad: Anyone else have a problem with this??
Oscar's mum
20-04-2006, 17:08
In my area one of the cab companies supplies baby seats it is $20 extra no matter how short the trip. Both however are happy to take bub without the baby seat, I choose not to do that though!;)
Natasha I have caught a cab from the airport with baby over 12m old and without a baby seat.
Havent heard the 3years of age thing.
Can you ring the big Taxi Headquarters and find out for sure?
Natasha I have caught a cab from the airport with baby over 12m old and without a baby seat.
Havent heard the 3years of age thing.
Can you ring the big Taxi Headquarters and find out for sure?
I have, they said I should speak to the police and get them to tell me!:eek:
They said they tell there drivers it's up to them to find out what the law is and follow it! Some drivers don't have a clue, others think they know but don't. I Really don't know whether to bother the police.
Bother the first year constables....why not/?
At least you'll know for sure.
Its worth it dont you think?
check with the RTA ;)
Um, at the risk of sounding blonde........what's that???:confused: :o
Road and Transport Authority..though its not called RTA anymore is it??
ok blondie it's the roads traffic authoritay :D and yes I spelt the last word wrong on porpoise :D coz I am in stupid mode
Yep it's called that isn't ?
here ya go Nasha
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/
ok blondie it's the roads traffic authoritay :D and yes I spelt the last word wrong on porpoise :D coz I am in stupid mode
Yep it's called that isn't ?
here ya go Nasha
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/
Cheers darlin.;)
I'd say it changes each time because until the child is over the age of 16, the onus is on the driver to ensure that all passengers are correctly restrained in a vehicle.
Regardless of what the parents says, the driver will get the fines and the points deducted.
rynosmum
20-04-2006, 17:38
One day they will tell me that after 12 months of age I can take her on my lap with a seat belt round us both. Another day they tell me she has to be 3 yrs or older to do that!!!
Either way this is incredibly dangerous.:eek: Putting a child on your lap and using the same seatbelt should never be allowed - I'd be seriously surprised if it wasn't illegal. If you have a major accident, the weight of your body will literally crush hers.
Regardless of taxi law, common sense and safety should always prevail !:thumbsup:
i know when we were in nsw and also up here in qld you have to tell them that you have a child of whatever age and if by law they are to be restrained in a seat you have to ask the company to send the cabs out with the seat in it. (yes cabs do have seats for children not all but some do) i would not be travelling without my child in a restraint in a taxi they are in a restraint whilst driving with me or my DH so why not in another vehicle? if something happened you probably would be held just as responsible as the driver not ensuring the safety of the child whilst in a moving vehicle.
SassyMummy
20-04-2006, 23:58
I was wondering if I was able to use a taxi WITHOUT putting my own car seat into it (because how the hell am I meant to travel around with a carseat?).
I eMailed yellow cabs in Brisbane...and they informed me that I DO NOT HAVE TO have any sort of restraint on the baby. I do, however, have to sit in the back seat with the baby on my lap. That is what I got in reply.
I think what I'd do, is call up and speak to someone to let them know that you will have a baby, and THEN book the cab. That way the cabbie will (hopefully) know before he gets there.
aardvark
21-04-2006, 00:36
I eMailed yellow cabs in Brisbane...and they informed me that I DO NOT HAVE TO have any sort of restraint on the baby. I do, however, have to sit in the back seat with the baby on my lap. That is what I got in reply.
That is in keeping with what I was told the situation is in Victoria. Not good from a safety perspective, but apparently legal.
reAllytee
21-04-2006, 00:50
Yep once bubs is too big to go into a capsule which is what some cabs have & you have to be lucky to get one if you need it :mad:
I have yet to use one because well bubs was too big for a capsule after birth anyways LOL so i wouldve been stuck.
Once bubs can sit alone they should be in the back seat with you as cabs dont carry carseats for older children even though they should !
You shouldnt put the same seatbelt that you are using around bubs instead put the other around them as best you can because if you were to have an accident being in the same belt has major consequences !
I see the much stricter about his in Sydney!
Here in Brissy they dont raise an eyebrow if you have a bub with you!
I've never had any problems at all.
jessgray
22-04-2006, 09:46
im not really sure about rules for taxis as i havent used a taxi since i was preg with DS :laughing: but i wouldnt use it unless DS was in a restraint of some sort i would feel better knowing he is safer
cobysmummy
22-04-2006, 21:23
i rang a cab once to see how i would go about catching a taxi with a baby...
my response was that he was to sit on my lap.. i was shocked... but they said its not illegal...
i chose not to catch a taxi as we were going to the airport which is a fair drive so we got a lift...
i have seen many mothers get out of a taxi after having the baby on their lap...
SassyMummy
24-04-2006, 01:45
I'll use a taxi if I need to - but only a short trip. (As if I'd hand over the money for a long trip anyway).
If I've gone for a walk somewhere, for example, and it started to rain, and nobody could pick me up, I'd catch a taxi home. Or if I desperately needed to go to the shops (like when I thought I had nappies, but it turned out I didn't) or if I needed to be run to the doctors etc...I'd use one. But they're only short trips. I would NEVER do it for a longer trip.
yummmmy_mummy
24-04-2006, 21:10
i had an issue with this whe i first went to a young mothers group and was told that it is ur choice if u want to take a car seat but u DO NOT have to u are aloud to hold them on ur lap until a certain age ( notsure what age) and then they have to sit on the seat with a seat belt on my daughter thinks she so clever sitting on the seat with the seatbelt that she done it for awhile now. i was told in qld according the law u do not have to have a car seat for a child in a cab but trycalling the police or ur local council if they cant help u when u call for a cab ask them what theyre policy is
hope this was helpful
Charlie's Mum
04-05-2006, 19:55
I'm in Sydney and when i book a cab I ask for a baby seat. I've never had any problems and they haven't charged any more. I know a few drive around with them in their car and just set it up when it's needed.
Mamaduke
04-05-2006, 20:02
I just called the taxi service in Melbourne last week because we needed transportation to the airport. The person I spoke to said that if I wanted Lucas in a baby seat I would have to provide one (what am I supposed to do with it when we get to the airport???!) but children under 3 years of age are not classed as 'passengers' and can sit on a 'passenger's' lap for the journey...legally.
This astounded me...an accident can happen in a taxi just as easily (and judging by some of the drivers I've had easier!) as a normal passenger car.
I'm pretty confident with my driving and I wouldn't put my children in the car without seatbelts (aside from the fact it's illegal)...why should I be okay with doing it when a complete stranger is driving?
Needless to say we've found alternative transport to the airport...there is NO way I'm putting Lucas in a car without a proper seat and harness...madness!!!
I spoke to my dad about this (being that he's been driving taxis since before I was a twinkle in his pants) he was telling me that taxis are exempt from using car seats HOWEVER the baby has to sit on the lap of someone travelling in the backseat behind the passenger seat, and is NOT to be restrained in the belt (however he likes it when they use a sling or a baby bjorn and puts the seatbelt between the mum and bub)
He explained that the reason is, in an accident that baby weighs 500kg (his words) and the mum can't hold on to the baby, try as they might, the worst that will happen is that baby will hit the seat in front and fall to the floor. The baby may suffer a broken bone, but he said that they don't really get that injured, so he's heard. Obviously in the middle seat they don't have a seat to stop their movement, and retrained with the mum and a belt and the bub will be crushed.
It's still not something I'd ever do.
yackysmum
04-05-2006, 22:02
all this info is so interesting. I watched an episode of today tonight months ago about the new laws that say all children must be in a car seat until they are eight. Why on earth do they make things so confusing, you try to do the right thing but are told a million ways to do it. I guess its a case of DAMNED IF U DO DAMNED IF U DONT. but what other means of transport do you have if it turns out that you have to have your little one in a seat? Looks like its time to make hubby get you a car, you've got the best exuse now.
cjb/jbvd
05-05-2006, 15:17
i had the same problem with my DS, as i don't have a licence at all.
gave serious thought to starting my own taxi company just for parents
with all women drivers
child seats in every cab (including booster seats for older children still not able to fit into regular seats)
all station wagons/family vans for shopping, prams, sporting gear etc
bike racks on the back
and all the wiggles/hi 5/play school cd's my stacker can hold.
i even thought up a name
MUM'S TAXI
what do you guys reckon??
of course it's a few years away yet, but i'm tired of the lack of care in the taxi industry and why complain when you can make a difference?
yummmmy_mummy
05-05-2006, 19:14
i had the same problem with my DS, as i don't have a licence at all.
gave serious thought to starting my own taxi company just for parents
with all women drivers
child seats in every cab (including booster seats for older children still not able to fit into regular seats)
all station wagons/family vans for shopping, prams, sporting gear etc
bike racks on the back
and all the wiggles/hi 5/play school cd's my stacker can hold.
i even thought up a name
MUM'S TAXI
what do you guys reckon??
of course it's a few years away yet, but i'm tired of the lack of care in the taxi industry and why complain when you can make a difference?
i think thats a great idea let me know how it goes
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