Is your child under 3 years of age and travelling in a taxi or private hire vehicle?

In a previous article (March 2023) we considered the legal requirement for seatbelts to be worn in motor vehicles, (as introduced in 1983.)

UK seatbelt legislation is not straightforward and in this article we consider the specific legal requirement for a child under 3 years of age to use a child seat when travelling in a taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV). (sometimes also referred to as a minicab, particularly in London)

It will surprise many to realise that the current legislation does not actually require a taxi or PHV to have a child seat available for a child under 3 years of age, at all, whether for the front or back of the vehicle, though when available then any child ‘passenger’ must use them.

A child under 3 years of age can only travel in the front of a taxi or private hire vehicle if they are sitting in an appropriate child car seat. The seat must be a rearward-facing child seat or if a forward-facing child seat then it must have an internal harness of a type compliant with the current safety standard.

And note; for any vehicle driven in the UK, it is illegal to carry a child under 3 years of age in a rearward-facing baby seat positioned in the front of the vehicle, if there is an active front passenger airbag in that vehicle. The airbag must be deactivated or alternatively the baby seat must be affixed in the rear of the vehicle. So, of course this requirement also applies to a taxi or PHV.

If the taxi or PHV doesn’t have a rear child seat fitted or available, then the safest way of carrying the child in the vehicle would be for the child to be held by an adult who is wearing a rear seatbelt during the journey, whilst making sure that the child is not also restrained by the adult seat belt being around them (either purposefully or inadvertently.)

When it comes to preventing possible injury to your child when travelling in a taxi or PHV, ensuring that a child seat is fitted or available for the safety of your child, is clearly something you should consider and is something that the driver can easily ensure.

Maybe when you next phone for a private hire vehicle or hail your taxi, you ask the company, or driver, about this… and if the taxi or PHV company cannot confirm to you that a child seat will be available for your journey, then should you be considering whether it would be more sensible to travel with a different company which will provide a child seat for you.

For free initial advice upon any motoring matter contact our motoring department on 01606592159.