Infant Car Seat Laws
Feb 26th, 2003, 08:22 PM
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Infant Car Seat Laws
I am going to London for a week with my one year old and wanted to know what the rules are regarding car seats for infants. Can anyone help me with information on that? I will be taking a taxi from the airport to go to the city and am not sure what happens. Do cabs carry infant seats? Also, can one board a bus with a baby and no car seat? Any help, views or suggestions would be much appreciated/
Thanks,
Desiree.
Thanks,
Desiree.
Feb 27th, 2003, 01:27 AM
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The answers to your two questions are:
- no infant seats normally available in taxis; if it's the standard design 'black cab' you're sitting in the back anyway, if you have an ordinary car you will be expected to have the baby in the back.
- infant seats not required in buses; newer buses in London can have space for a baby-buggy/stroller, but mostly those would have to be folded and stored
In both cases the underlying assumption is that you're holding the baby - literally and metaphorically! But don't fret, you'll probably find the baby quite a conversational ice-breaker on a bus.
- no infant seats normally available in taxis; if it's the standard design 'black cab' you're sitting in the back anyway, if you have an ordinary car you will be expected to have the baby in the back.
- infant seats not required in buses; newer buses in London can have space for a baby-buggy/stroller, but mostly those would have to be folded and stored
In both cases the underlying assumption is that you're holding the baby - literally and metaphorically! But don't fret, you'll probably find the baby quite a conversational ice-breaker on a bus.
Feb 27th, 2003, 01:33 AM
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Here is a summary of the legal position:
http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/law/
therfront
Basically, in the UK, a child under 3 must be put in an appropriate car seat if available (and cannot travel in the front seat of a car without one). It is up to the driver to say whether she can travel in the back seat without one. (also, of course, do not put a child in the front seat if an airbag is fitted). I think that some cabs carry infant seats, but I wouldn't rely on it.
If it was me, I would take my own car seat both for the air journey and taxis, though if you are renting a car, you can ask to rent a child seat.
On buses, the child can sit on your knee, or (on some buses) in their stroller. But for long distance coach journeys I would really advise taking a car seat (you may have to pay for a seat for the child).
http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/law/
therfrontBasically, in the UK, a child under 3 must be put in an appropriate car seat if available (and cannot travel in the front seat of a car without one). It is up to the driver to say whether she can travel in the back seat without one. (also, of course, do not put a child in the front seat if an airbag is fitted). I think that some cabs carry infant seats, but I wouldn't rely on it.
If it was me, I would take my own car seat both for the air journey and taxis, though if you are renting a car, you can ask to rent a child seat.
On buses, the child can sit on your knee, or (on some buses) in their stroller. But for long distance coach journeys I would really advise taking a car seat (you may have to pay for a seat for the child).
