-
Posts
-
I was watching the news programme on BBC1 this morning. There was an article on it regarding child safety in cars………children under 4’5 (135 cms) are now going to have to use booster seats as the seat belt isn’t deemed safe enough for them, as they don’t fit properly below this height.
The amount of emials received while the programme was on-air, from parents and children alike, complaning about these new rules. Parents complaning about not having enough room in their cars for these seats on the school runs etc., children complaning saying it’s not fair etc etc etc.,
1. I understand that in certain cicumstances, children have to be driven to school, but there are others where it would be quicker in fact, to walk! seems the little cherubs can’t possibly be asked to walk, much too far for their little legs to carry them. Maybe if they did, there would be a few less overweight kids around.
2. I may sound old fashioned, but whatever happened to children ”doing as their told”……
I wonder if the very same people who are complaining about it, would feel the same when their little cherub has either flown through the windscreen, has been strangled, or crippled, by an ill-fitting seat belt….. :?
I for one feel that it’s about time these restrictions were put into place. I myself do not drive, but when my son has to go anywhere with family members that do, he takes his booster seat with him. If he doesn’t have his booster he simply doesn’t go in the car. £9.99 for a booster seat is nothing compared to the possibility of losing your childs life. My dad even prefers doing 2 runs in the car as to packing the kids in for the sake of saving time, alternatively i quite happily walk wherever i’m going.
It shocks me to think that *parents* have an issue with ensuring their childs safety. If they do not have enough room in their current cars to taxi their children to and from places, then shouldn’t they invest in a bigger car ? And, as much as i agree that children also have the right to an opinion, when it comes to things like this where the child isn’t the one held legally responsible, should they even be asked what they feel about the situation. I wholeheartedly agree with us Cas, what has happened to kids doing as they are told ?
My only concern however is, how will this affect Taxi companies ? Will drivers have to carry booster seats to allow themselves to be in complaince with these laws ? If so how many booster seats do they carry, and who will be held responsible for the failure to carry out these laws ?
Also, many school buses have seatbelts which MUST be worn by the child, will bus companies have to ensure all children under said height have booster seats provided or will said buses have to be altered to cater for children of these sizes ?
As a parent I would say that these rules are a good idea. I can see problems with booster seats where, say, an 11 year old boy under 4ft 5in has to use a booster cushion while his taller friend of the same age can sit next to him without one.
I think minimum ages for cycling on public roads should be introduced. Perhaps 6 for a child accompanied by a parent and 10 for unaccompanied. Also children should have to wear cycle helmets.
I havent googled this so may be wrong (and didnt see the programme) so feel free to correct me
1. I understand the seat has to be a specific EU (with a red tag) seat which is bigger and bulkier than a booster seat
2. Families who have 3 kids will not fit them in a normal family car with mum and dad unless it is a people carrier
3. I take my kids to school because it is unsafe to let them go on their own, not because I, or they, are lazy. I can well remember my school days of walking the 1 mile to my junior school (aged 5 years and 9 months)- doesn’t mean it’s safe to do it now. Also many kids don’t live near their schools…but that’s for another thread
4. This regulation just stands out as EU red tape gone mad- there are so many more important issues around children- prostitution, child pornography on the net etc that the EU really COULD do something about but actually does little. Bureacracy gone mad.
We may have to agree to disagree on this one- luckily I only have 1 child under 4 foot 5 inches now (though I too have had to buy a people carrier cos there’s just too many of them altogether)
I heard a couple of adverts today too- i think this will be a biggie until (like “clunk, click, every trip”) it becomes second nature
I’m sure that any parent who have lost a child in a car accident would gladly turn back the clocks and use a bigger and safer car seat. Loved Ones are one thing in this world that are Irreplaceable.
The answer is simple !!!
Keep the little brats in the boot
Problem solved – stops any distractions the driver may have too – when the buggas start fighting !!!
My only concern however is, how will this affect Taxi companies ? Will drivers have to carry booster seats to allow themselves to be in complaince with these laws ? If so how many booster seats do they carry, and who will be held responsible for the failure to carry out these laws ?
I asked a freind about this one Doflip, he works as a controller in a cab office. He said, yes. they are supposed to comply with the law with regard to the child seats, but, there are 3 different sizes, from infant to the junior booster seats. Do they/should they, have to supply and carry all three??
I’d have said that probably it’d be easier, for families getting a taxi, to supply thier own, already owned, car seats and/or boosters. Either that, or if theyre going to a special occasion, their reason for getting a cab in the first place, that one parent refrain from drinking alchohol in order to drive home safely. It happens the world over.
@cas wrote:
My only concern however is, how will this affect Taxi companies ? Will drivers have to carry booster seats to allow themselves to be in complaince with these laws ? If so how many booster seats do they carry, and who will be held responsible for the failure to carry out these laws ?
I asked a freind about this one Doflip, he works as a controller in a cab office. He said, yes. they are supposed to comply with the law with regard to the child seats, but, there are 3 different sizes, from infant to the junior booster seats. Do they/should they, have to supply and carry all three??
I’d have said that probably it’d be easier, for families getting a taxi, to supply thier own, already owned, car seats and/or boosters. Either that, or if theyre going to a special occasion, their reason for getting a cab in the first place, that one parent refrain from drinking alchohol in order to drive home safely. It happens the world over.
If they are going to be licensed and responsible for carrying peoples children then they should be equipped to carry out their role as a Taxi to the full and carry the seats in the boot of their taxi’s. The seats aren’t small, and it would mean a family of 2 or more children wishing to go out for the day taking booster seats, it wouldnt be very practical.
The seats are heavy enough to move around.Perhaps they cant afford a car so would have to rely on taxi’s or cant drive or simply dont have the money.
@Tory Girl wrote:
@cas wrote:
My only concern however is, how will this affect Taxi companies ? Will drivers have to carry booster seats to allow themselves to be in complaince with these laws ? If so how many booster seats do they carry, and who will be held responsible for the failure to carry out these laws ?
I asked a freind about this one Doflip, he works as a controller in a cab office. He said, yes. they are supposed to comply with the law with regard to the child seats, but, there are 3 different sizes, from infant to the junior booster seats. Do they/should they, have to supply and carry all three??
I’d have said that probably it’d be easier, for families getting a taxi, to supply thier own, already owned, car seats and/or boosters. Either that, or if theyre going to a special occasion, their reason for getting a cab in the first place, that one parent refrain from drinking alchohol in order to drive home safely. It happens the world over.
If they are going to be licensed and responsible for carrying peoples children then they should be equipped to carry out their role as a Taxi to the full and carry the seats in the boot of their taxi’s. The seats aren’t small, and it would mean a family of 2 or more children wishing to go out for the day taking booster seats, it wouldnt be very practical.
The seats are heavy enough to move around.Perhaps they cant afford a car so would have to rely on taxi’s or cant drive or simply dont have the money.
If they have to carry these seats in the boot all the time, where then, would they put peoples shopping when picking up from supermarkets, luggage from airports etc etc., It’s not as simple as it sounds.
Get involved in this discussion! Log in or register now to have your say!