Hi guys, I called 13cabs to book a taxi, requesting a car seat.
They asked how old is the child and I responded with 2 and 1/2 years old. I was informed in Sydney (NSW) a car seat is only required for ages up to 1 year old. So if the child is >1 year old, no car seat is required.
Is this correct?
"properly fastened and adjusted seatbelt" - is that just a regular seatbelt?
Yes, a seatbelt.
is that just a regular seatbelt?
No, it's a "properly fastened and adjusted seatbelt"
Correct answer, but can you hold off posting for a bit longer in future so we can have the wild speculations and flat out wrong comments posted with authority that this forum is famous for?
From personal experience here - no, not in cabs (although even some cab drivers don't seem to know this) for Ubers yes.
Need? Irrelevant
Want? Yes
.
They told me something similar when I called. For <1 year old, they also said "yeah you can just hold the child, it's up to you".
In an accident, you would not be able to keep hold of the child. But they don't want to miss out on a fare.
NSW Road Rule #266 says;
(2A) If the passenger is 6 months old or older, but is less than 4 years old, he or she must be restrained in a suitable and properly fastened and adjusted—
(a) rearward facing approved child restraint, or
(b) forward facing approved child restraint that has an inbuilt harness.
And we will need Subrule (4) for later…
(4) If the passenger is at least 7 years old but under 16 years old—
(a) he or she must be placed on a properly positioned approved booster seat and restrained by a properly adjusted and fastened—
(i) seatbelt, or
(ii) approved child safety harness, or
(a1) he or she must be restrained in a suitable and properly adjusted and fastened forward facing approved child restraint that is or was designated as a Type G child restraint under the relevant Australian Standard and has an inbuilt harness, or
(b) he or she—
(i) must occupy a seating position that is fitted with a suitable approved seatbelt, and
(ii) must not occupy the same seating position as another passenger (whether or not the other passenger is exempt from wearing a seatbelt under rule 267), and
(iii) must wear the seatbelt properly adjusted and fastened.
Followed up by the relevant "taxi" exemption…
(5–1) The provisions of this rule have effect in relation to passengers in or on taxis who are under 16 years old, subject to the following modifications—
(a) subrule (2A) applies only in relation to passengers who are 6 months old or older, but less than 12 months old,
(b) subrule (2B) does not apply to any passengers who are 4 years old or older, but less than 7 years old,
(c) subrule (4) extends to passengers who are 12 months old or older, but less than 7 years old, in addition to passengers who are 7 years old or older, but under 16 years old.
So, for using a taxi, if your child is older than 12 months, they are to use Road Rule #266(4) as outlined in (5-1)(c)
First search result:-
https://www.pointtopoint.nsw.gov.au/%3Fqs%3D39795b6446a1adc2…