31 January 2011
While all parents know to put their children in a proper child restraint in their own cars, what do you do when you need to travel in a taxi?
Rules for travelling with a child in a taxi vary from state to state but updated child restraint laws brought in last year now mean all children under seven years of age must use a child restraint or booster seat when travelling in a car; and despite what the dispatcher emphatically tells you, this includes taxis. Only the Northern Territory is yet to bring in the new laws, but they’re expected to be in force later this year.
So what to do when travelling in a taxi?
Now although all taxis should be fitted with an anchor point for travelling with a child restraint, the problem seems to be not all taxis have an appropriate capsule.
The reality is that only about one in 10 taxis will be equipped with a child restraint or capsule, so the best option is use your own. Alternatively, if this isn’t possible, you can hire a capsule from the taxi company upon request.
Unfortunately, some taxi companies will charge you for it, and to add insult to injury, this also includes taxi travelling time picking the capsule up from the depot and travelling from there to pick you up. And it doesn’t stop there. If this is your only option, you’ll also need to give the taxi a lot of notice, booking at least an hour in advance to make sure there will be one available.
Whether travelling in a taxi or your own vehicle, new child restraint laws brought in last year must be adhered to for your child’s safety.
- Children under 6 months must use an approved, properly fastened and adjusted rearward-facing restraint
- Children aged between 6 months and under 4 years must use an approved, properly fastened and adjusted rearward facing child restraint OR a forward-facing restraint
- Children aged between 4 years and under 7 years must use an approved, properly fastened and adjusted forward-facing restraint or an approved booster seat that’s properly positioned and fastened.
Fines for not following these laws can be around $300.
A few more laws you may not be aware of…
When travelling in a car, whether it be your own or a taxi, children should always be seated in the back. There are laws preventing children from sitting in the front seats of cars.
If the vehicle has only one row of seats such as a ute, a child – regardless of age – can sit in the front seat if they are restrained properly. If a car has more than one row of seats, a child under the age of four can’t sit in the front seat; and a child aged between four and seven can’t sit in the front seat of a vehicle that has more than one row of seats, unless all other available seats are occupied by children under the age of seven.
But it’s not enough just to have a child restraint – it’s also important to have the right one and for it to be fitted correctly.
Get it right…
The transport authorities in your state should have a guide on how to buy the correct restraint and how to have it fitted. There are fitting sites with professionals who can properly fit the restraint in your vehicle and show you how to do it.
For more information on child restraints, you can call the Australian Transport Safety Bureau on 1800 020 616.