I think officially you're not supposed to travel in an Uber in Australia without a car seat for young children. This is contrary to taxis where it is allowed in most states.
I have heard though that many Uber drivers will take you with young children anyway.
Is this true? Anybody care to share their experiences using Uber with small children?
Thanks.
Do you know of other drivers who allow small children as passengers?
For example in this thread there are a couple of passengers who were allowed to take their kids:
https://www.reddit.com/r/brisbane/comments/6udf17/uber_quest…
Someone posted that car hire services or taxi's are exempt from this rule. This is interesting and now not sure where Uber stands. Car Hire I imagine is like Limo's or private cars, I assume they have additional insurances and training etc. I would be surprised if Uber would fall into this category given almost anyone can be an Uber driver.
If an driver has held a NSW licence for 12 months, they can be an Uber driver. If they’re a non Australian citizen (visitor, student, Temporary resident) they will most likely take kids without booster seats, or even babies without baby seats. They have nothing to lose, so they literally don’t care.
Hire car drivers and taxis are exempt from this rule, they also pay around $5k insurance a year, perhaps covering young children without the right seat.
Bear in mind, a train or bus has no seatbelts for babies, or adults. Then again, they have decent insurance and training.
It's sad to see so much misinformation lurking around regarding ride-sharing platforms.
1stly - If anyone can be an Uber driver, so does a Taxi driver or Hire car driver. There are multiple formalities and Norms for being an Uber driver now. Getting an ABN, registering for GST, Doing your quarterly BAS, HIRE CAR LICENCE, DRIVER ACCREDITATION (MEDICALS) , 12 MONTHS OLD FULL AUSTRALIAN driver's licence, Business Use Car insurance, Dash Cameras, Displaying CPV/Uber signs while on job etc.
Yes there is still one difference, Choosing your own hours.
That's it. ( However, driver's do have to drive during certain hours to just earn the national minimum wage - after expenses, and they cannot be that choosy - trust me, or they won't survive)
Now coming to the main question of the Forum - RE Child seats.
Yes, there is still no education for drivers of the gig economy especially regarding Child seats, so , yes many NEW residents, Australians , do not realise this requirement and just allow the child until they are caught by authorities or pointed at by riders. Some learn but some keep ignoring.
As the gig economy is still establishing, so does the laws around it. Uber drivers are now Hire car driver's as they register their vehicles for HC, however there still is a vague grey area around this, and if all the laws of hire car apply to ride share cars or not. We will find out next August when the government would jack up the car registration costs for rideshare driver's.
(Silly though - but I do not understand how a child would be better protected with Hire car accreditation on the number plates) - Child seats should be a requirement none the less.
Hire car drivers and taxis are exempt from this rule
In NSW, Hire Cars are not exempt. Taxi's have a more relaxed requirement, however are not totally exempt.
When I was driving hire cars, this was a strict zero-tolerance area.
There is a female focussed ride share service called Shebah that uses women drivers and they have baby and child seat available.
It is available for any female passenger and young boys. Men can also travel with a female partner and baby/child.
Yay for equality.
At the risk of being downvoted I don't really see the need for a female only ride sharing service. If a taxi/uber drive is that bad that they make anyone (not just females) feel uncomfortable while using their service they should not be a drive and be booted from the platform.
Guess you aren't a woman living in the modern world then.
Mostly worried about getting assaulted by drivers. This can be a taxi or Uber and any other ride sharing service.
Giving a driver a "bad rating" isn't going to help after he has attacked you.
@serpserpserp: It isn't only men that are assaulting people in ride shares, bit unfair to say 'after he has attacked you'. There have been many cases female passengers assault male drivers.
If you are worried about getting assaulted by drivers then I suggest you find private transport. Having a female only system isn't going to magically eradicate it. We need to be looking at different forms of vetting drivers before they can drive (not sure if/how taxis/uber do it currently). It is not just an issue for women.
@knobbs: Many huh? I bet for every woman assaulting a male passenger in a ride share I could probably find at least 20 examples for men.
Many cases… Goodness grief.
@serpserpserp: "Giving a driver a "bad rating" isn't going to help after he has attacked you."
I had a visual image of a driver trying to attack a female passenger and shes on her phone writing a review describing whats going on. I think there is a market for it. If it makes you comfortable thank your $ is theirs.
@serpserpserp: I'm an uber driver and I very rarely pick up women now. If they are not drunk, rude, inconsiderate or annoying I'd reconsider. Many uber drivers won't pick up single drunk woman now…too risky because they abuse driver and if you even say something back they call police or spit on you and accuse driver of sexual assault. Go check out uber groups…it is standard now to avoid white single drunk female passengers..
@Uberd: Wow. I’m a female and usually travel Uber alone to and from the airport. Obviously if I’m coming from the airport, I am less likely to be drunk….. but when I am coming from my home, do Uber drivers often refuse my job?
Anyone can just identify as whatever to use the service.
@[Deactivated]: Can I identify as luggage so I don't get charged as much? Or I should identify as take-away food, so I can get delivered via UberEATS.
It's also a safe option for transporting young children to and from school/activities etc. Also teenage girls after a night out…I for one would feel much safer using this service for my kids/teenagers and have installed the app on their phones in case they need get out of a sticky situation and I'm not close by.
@Shoppingisfun: Sure, but why do teenage boys not need the same safety? Because the service is barred to them. Also, imply that all guys are more likely to be rapists - and society will welcome you with more business. But imply that women are weaker in basically any way, and you get flamed by everyone. I don't actually mind one or the other - but some consistence would be nice.
@serpserpserp: That's complete and utter BS. Were you just hoping people wouldn't click through?
There are three scenarios in which boys and men can use our service.
And they can't in literally every other situation.
Seriously the FAQ is a joke:
Shebah does not tolerate discrimination of any kind.
That sounds good!
What if a man or a couple tries to get in the car?
Our policy is to cancel the trip and charge the passenger the $8.80 cancellation fee.
@HighAndDry: But you just said there was only 3 scenarios where they can use the service? There is literally only 1 scenario where they can't. Did you think I wasn't going to click through to the FAQ?
lol
@serpserpserp: Ok, you might get a pass because you legit can't read. There are only 3 scenarios teenage boys can use the service. There are more than 4 scenarios total, in case your maths is as bad as your comprehension. The three cases where they can use are exhaustive:
Boys under 13, or under 18 before 5pm.
Boys under 18 when accompanied by a female.
A man with his female partner and a baby in need of a baby seat and only if pre-booked.
LITERALLY no other cases where guys can use the service.
Edit: Since I have no faith you have any IQ points, a 19 year old, aka nineteen is still a teenager.
4 pos, 3 negs. I think your comment needs a sarcasm tag.
I'm more than a little worried some people (like serpserpserp) would actually think it is a win for equality that we now have gender-segregated services.
@HighAndDry: Who said anything about equality?
I was implying (and pretty much said) it was a win for women's safety.
Who said anything about equality?
I mean, if you're admitting you're in favour of inequality, I guess you're at least honest.
@HighAndDry: Didn't say that either!
I mean, if you're admitting you're in favour of jumping to conclusions to suit your own agenda, I guess you're at least honest.
@serpserpserp: While false dichotomies are everywhere these days, being in favour of or against equality is actually a pretty solid binary.
Supporting a business that has as its biggest draw being gender discrimination seems to be against equality to me. Just saying.
Thanks Shoppingisfun, I'll have a look.
Why increase the risk of injuring your child or their life regardless?
Fair question.
We are travelling to a developing country soon where child car seats are nearly non-existent. If I lived by that rule we probably wouldn't do anything or go anywhere.
We need the Uber to get to the airport. It's all relative really.
Where are you based? I have a 3 year old and are always using hire cars with child seats fited or our airport connections and may be able to recommend a company you can use.
For us it costs about $20 more than a cab for private black hire car with child seat for transfers from Melbourne Airport to the CBD.
Don't put your child at risk.
How many kids are you travelling with? Could you take your car seat away with you?
I think officially you're not supposed to travel in an Uber in Australia without a car seat for young children. This is contrary to taxis where it is allowed in most states.
Correct.
Taxi's (and maybe hire cars) are exempt. Uber's and other ride sharing services are not.
That's not to say Uber drivers won't take your child that legally requires a car seat. Best to call the driver when you make your booking to see if they're okay with it or not. Otherwise they're very much within their right to cancel your trip.
When we travelled to the Gold Coast we did some research as we had a 2 and 4yr old at the time. According to their rules taxis and Uber don't need baby seats, whereas in Sydney they do. We travelled in a few Ubers without problem.
Taxis in NSW don’t need baby seats either, same as QLD.
Welcome back to the nanny state :)
From the Taxis FAQ:
"Babies/children 6 months up to 12 months
Children under 6 months must be in a suitable and properly fastened/adjusted rearward facing restraint. Children 6 months or older but less than 12 months must be in either a rearward facing restraint or a forward facing restraint with in-built harness. These rules are the same for all vehicles.
Children 12 months up to 16 years
In taxis, children 12 months or older but under 16 years old must be in an independent seating position either on a booster seat and use a seatbelt that is properly adjusted and fastened or must use a suitable seatbelt that is properly adjusted and fastened."
Have contacted uber themselves about this, some drivers carry child restraints but its pot luck, there is nothing on the app to indicate that you need one.
If they dont have one, they are directed not to take the fare.
Taxis and hire cars are exempt from these laws
I think taxis usually have an exemption, which in some states apply to Uber also.
But with a taxi you can just order one that has a car seat. I heard that the Uber rider app allows this also?? If not, it would be a pain asking driver then cancelling ride and rebooking. That would be hit and miss.
The idea is primarily that the parent provides the restraint, but I can see that this would often not be practical.
As an Uber driver I tried to provide everything a rider might want, but I never thought about a car seat. I've found them sooooo time consuming to fit and unfit, I imagine other drivers (less focussed on customer service than myself!) would cancel rides requiring a car seat.
In Qld, an Uber vehicle (or taxi) must have an anchor point (should a parent provide a car seat), but otherwise the child can be unrestrained.
https://www.racq.com.au/cars-and-driving/safety-on-the-road/…
In SA, the rider is supposed to provide the car seat for Uber, but not necessary for a taxi (but if provided it must be used). https://samotor.raa.com.au/child-restraints-rideshares-and-t…
In NSW a baby must be in a child restraint, but I'm not sure whether driver or parent is responsible https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/vehicles…
I was sure in Brisbane, Uber told us we were only responsible for children 7-16 to wear their seatbelts: older is thier own responsibility, younger is parent's. But that might have changed (or been misinformation??) because I can't find that now.
I don t know about Uber but most of transport service ( taxi, airport shuttle,..and even some private companies) we used in the past always got a car seat or booster seat ready for us. When you booked just let them know you are travelling with a baby/ young child.
Ride share, like Taxis and buses >13 seats, are exempt in Queensland:
https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/children/exemp…
Laws apply to Uber drivers the same as a general motorist. If I picked up a passenger who had an infant, I would reject the job. If I was caught, I would be fined the same, not to mention the fact I am putting that child's life at risk. In summary - It is illegal.