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how do you ride in taxi with toddler
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Anonymous
| maybe this is a stupid question, but you don't have a carseat in a taxi, so what do you do with your toddler? The regular seatbelts are too big for a toddler, right? I'm trying to figure this out before I have to do it. |
SMcCartney
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| You need to take and install your own car seat. Taxi drivers will not take you otherwise, it is against the law and risks their license. |
Anonymous
Depends on the state. I think Maryland requires them in cabs, but Virginia doesn't. Not sure about DC. |
SMcCartney
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DO NOT spread this misinformation! It is a law in ALL states and applies to cars, regardless of whether the car is used as a taxi or not. It is a state safety issue and is taken very seriously. AndB, taxis, as a business, are likely to be aware of the enormous liability. YOU CANNOT HAVE A YOUNG CHILD IN A CAR W/O A CAR SEAT!!
http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/law/index.htm#kids311 |
Anonymous
| PP - You're linking to a UK website. |
Anonymous
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Here's VA law. Taxis are exempt. Chill please.
The law applies to anyone (i.e. parents, grandparents, babysitters, friends) who provides transportation for a child in any vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1968. Public transportation (taxis, buses), regulation school buses, and farm vehicles are exempted. [/url]http://www.vahealth.org/Injury/safetyseat/laws.htm[url] |
Anonymous
| So what does one do? I am usually out and about with my DD in a stroller and if it begins to pour or gets too cold we hale a cab to go home. I usually hold her in my lap. So far no cab driver has complained or not let us in. |
SMcCartney
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Sorry, this is the UK site, the US site was beneath this. Similar information, safe insistence on a car seat. Here is the US site, at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov. Third topic on list at far left, Child Passenger Safety. Please read information, keep a copy handy in your car and be safe with your child and all children. |
Anonymous
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Well, anyone who thinks there is a difference between a taxi and a regular car is a moron, they are both CARS. Anyone who thinks it is ok to put a toddler in a taxi w/out a carseat is a bigger moron, especially with a strange person driving.
Call me "rude" but if you put your child in a car with no carseat (taxi or not) you are a very stupid person. |
Anonymous
Ok..but why don't you answer 11:30's question. What are some solutions? |
Anonymous
What about in another country where carseats aren't available? Sometime it is not an option. The question is if you don't have a carseat, how to you make it as safe as possible for your toddler? Anyone? |
Anonymous
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I don't think it is fair to call someone a moron. There are definitely times where I feel it is warranted to put your child in a taxi without a carseat. I have installed mine when traveling home from the aiport but I have also just held my child on my lap. For example, I was visiting my folks and I was downtown about 20 blocks from their house when the baby got sick, had a blowout and was screaming. I needed to get her home now. No metro/subway so my choices were a taxi cab or the bus. I chose the taxi cab.
Would I preferred to have her in a carseat? Of course but I think it isn't always so black and white. |
Anonymous
TAKE THE BUS or walk home. Don't put yourself in a position where you are endangering the life of your child. Bring an umbrella and deal with the rain. Not all nice solutions but putting a toddler in a car w/ no carseat is asking for death in an accident. |
Anonymous
| People do what they have to do. Is traveling without a car seat the safeest option? Certainly not. But are you declaring certain death? No. |
SMcCartney
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Read the VA law, did not read through to the (ridiculous) exemption. "The law applies to anyone (i.e. parents, grandparents, babysitters, friends) who provides transportation for a child in any vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1968. Public transportation (taxis, buses), regulation school buses, and farm vehicles are exempted."
I stand corrected. Apparently kids in VA can be jeopardized, so long as someone is directly profiting from it, such as a taxi or bus. Promote safety prominently on the site, then give a huge exemption category. It is sad how little children rate in this country. The UK site is preferable, and has an exemption for hired cars, as well, then puts in bold that the driver of the car is responsible for ensuring all passengers are secure. I am sure that note on liability goes a long way. I see no such note in the VA law. It is obviously up to the adult, who, hopefully, has love and good sense on their side. Can't afford a car seat? There is a number to help you get one. Get one. Getting wet in the rain while out in the stroller? Get wet, get home safely in one piece. I am genuinely surprised, and saddened, that this is actually an issue raised here. |