Safety without seatbelts

[Marlene]

A capsule on the floor behind the drivers seat is another option I *think

That's a good idea!

[LuluHB]

It may not always be convenient but is it possible to find a "regular" taxi driver who does have seatbelts in the back of his taxi? Like I said, it won't always be convenient but you might be able to book ahead a particular driver so you know you could strap the baby's capsule in. Otherwise, wedging the capsule on the floor behind the driver would be the next best thing.

I know the speeds are reduced but unfortunately it doesn't take much speed for nasty injury to occur. Its also a fact that you simply can't hold onto an unrestrained child in an accident, and neither would you be able to do anything to prevent your own body from potentially injurying the child if using a baby carrier. Scary footage that I saw recently (I'll try to find it, although its nightmarish stuff) basically proved that you would be incapable of holding an unrestrained child before you even left the car park.

[Bathsheba]

Hmmm... things don't kinda just bounce around in a car accident... they propell... fast. I have heard of children going through glass windows but have yet heard of a crush injury because of child wearing. I could be wrong though.

[Liz]

this is why I wouldn't wear.... YouTube - Crash test:Child in mothers hands/??????? ?? ????? ? ??????

and yeah.. I worded it badly lol.. not bounce around.. even if the baby is propelled, i'd rather it be propelled in a capsule.

Just looking around youtube now, searching for 'unrestrained child'. There's ones showing that you simply can't hold onto the child.

ETA: Yikes.. this is at 50km/hr YouTube - No Seatbelt - Like Pinball
I think an unrestrained capsule would injure everyone else in the car! Even at 40km/hr!

I don't really know what to suggest anymore.. perhaps really search for a taxi with seatbelts in the back to restrain the capsule.

ETA again: I'm agreeing with LuluHB.. check out the impact at 40km/hr http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn8m-9JLPes and if it's a headon.. you'd be looking at a force of 80km/hr if both are doing 40. yikes...

sorry.. going youtube crazy LOL.

[Visitor6]

A tensioning seatbelt with a hugaboo would could serious injury to bub.

Baby wearing means loss of control of yourself as your centre of gravity changes.

However if the belt was between you and the hugaboo that might help, but it will make it hard to get out of it in an emergency.

Perhaps a capsule on the floor behind a seat (if it had sufficient sideways support that prevented lateral movement as well as good belts/harnesses.

Inertia and rapid deceleration in crashes plays in very nasty ways, good luck hope you find a safe choice.

[Schmickers]

Hmmm... things don't kinda just bounce around in a car accident... they propell... fast. I have heard of children going through glass windows but have yet heard of a crush injury because of child wearing. I could be wrong though.

Actually, I have, where a child was being held by a parent and the belt was around both of them. The belt tensions back and the force of the accident pushes the adult forward, and the child is caught between the two.

[GoingtobebiginAsia]

Thanks for your advice.
Liz, I'm too scared to look at the youtube clips.
As I said, taxis rarely reach 40. They just crawl along. It's very frustrating being a passenger. I think the capsule on the floor may be the safest. I don't know why I didn't think of that, I was only thinking of the capsule sliding off the seat and bouncing around everywhere.
As for booking a particular taxi.... it's a nice idea but things are really different here. The usual practice is to walk to the street, call a taxi by phone while trying to flag one down. You jump in the first one that stops. Likewise, a driver that accepts a booking will stop for the first person he sees.
Kate07, I hope you enjoy your holiday in VN. The traffic in Cambodia is a little different. I think they drive slightly faster but the traffic overall is much saner. PM me if you want any travel tips!

[Liz]

Two of them are just crash test dummies And one is like a commercial showing what happens when an adult doesn't wear a seatbelt at 40km/hr. Nothing graphic or anything

[Beth-n-Sara]

When We were bubs my mum had an old car with no seatbelts, She used to jam the capsule on the floor behind the frount seat. It was really common 20-30 years ago.