Sitting a child on your lap in a taxi

[glenny_c]

I believe that as taxis are classed as public transport you don't need proper child seats. Same rules as buses,

[Sagres]

In know is South Australia this is the case, you can legally have them sitting on your lap. In the event I've needed a taxi I've just found other ways around it because that is not cool with me. There are companies around who can provide transportation and car seats that you can pre-book. They might cost a bit more than a taxi but not tonnes more.

[Cass72]

Not sure where you are but I'm in the ACT.

I had to get my car serviced and thought I would catch a taxi with DS2 from the mechanic to work rather than waiting for the bus. Big mistake!

To give them credit the taxi company called me after 15 minutes and said there was a delay as I had requested a carseat but one was on it's way from the airport and should be there within 12 minutes.
After another 15 minutes I got another call to say that the taxi had taken another fare and, that they would dispatch another taxi.
A further 10 minutes later I got yet another call to say that they were having difficulty in getting a taxi with a "capsule" and, could the child sit on my lap.
I politely explained that the child was 2 years old and, as far as I was aware, it was the law that a child must be properly restrained in a car/booster seat until the age of 7. He said, so that's a no then.

After booking a taxi (with a child restraint) we were finally on our way one & half hours later!

I asked the driver to wait whilst I adjusted the seat and made sure that it was properly secured. I was a nervous wreck by time we got out of the taxi. Never EVER again!!

Just found this on the ACT Government website and, I am utterly appalled! ARE TAXI'S SOMEHOW MAGICALLY EXEMPT FROM CAR ACCIDENTS? What if this was your only way of transport and your child was injured (or, God forbid, killed) in a car accident because by law the child was not required to be properly restrained?

Do we need a child restraint in a taxi?
The ACT's laws do not mandate the use of a baby capsule, child restraint or booster seat in a taxi. In the ACT, taxi drivers are exempt from the child restraint laws that apply to the carriage of children under 7 years in motor vehicles, where a suitable baby capsule, child restraint or booster seat is not available. However, a child under the age of 7 years must not be carried in the front seat of a taxi. The road transport laws require that all taxis must be fitted with at least one child restraint anchorage bolt, so that a person in charge of a young child may provide his or her own baby capsule, child restraint or booster seat for installation in the taxi. If you can, take your child's restraint with you. Most ACT taxis carry a child safety harness (H-harness) which can be used without a booster seat.

[Cass72]

As an aside, I was charged for the use of the carseat.

[~clover~]

Well I guess if you have to catch a taxi without a carseat/capsule, the safest place for your child would be on your lap... Where you could hold them if an accident were to happen.

[buliej]

I know in Melbourne that you can find car services that will provide a proper child seat - we've used them for airport transports when not bringing out own seat. I just had to do a bit of googling and make some phone calls - for some car services they use it as a selling point - that is providing car services. When you hear all this about taxis you can see why it is in fact a selling point for them.