[NSW] Does a Six Year Old Need A Booster Seat in a Taxi?

tempura on 01/02/2020 - 09:30
Last edited 01/02/2020 - 09:50 by 1 other user

i need to take along my nephew who is six years old in a taxi ride. Does he need booster seat?

I get mixed messages from this site.

It stated the following:

Children over the age of 12 months are permitted to wear a seatbelt while travelling in a taxi – but parents or taxi service providers may wish to provide and use a child car seat.

Then somewhere along the line in the last few paragraphs, it stated the following:

Children aged 4 years old to less than 7 years old are not permitted to travel in a hire vehicle unless they are secured in an approved forward facing restraint with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat.

Can he sit just like how adult is seated (with a seat belt)?

Travel

Comments

  • Ocker on 01/02/2020 - 10:06
    +1

    Maybe "hire vehicle" refers to rental cars?

    • tempura on 01/02/2020 - 10:06

      so your understanding, 6 yo can ride in a NSW taxi without booster seat hey?

      • Ocker on 01/02/2020 - 10:12

        Didn't say that - just giving a possible explanation for the seemingly conflicting advice you have posted.
        Having said that the regulations about children in taxi's is very explicit - they can just wear a seat-belt.

      • Never Pay RRP on 02/02/2020 - 19:41

        Yes that is my understanding as well. It looks like the “hire car” part is a separate section from the “taxi” part. Also i checked with a taxi driver and they said it is fine

  • poldy on 01/02/2020 - 10:10

    I put my 3 and 5 year olds in a taxi last year in Adelaide without a booster.

  • try2bhelpful on 01/02/2020 - 10:15
    +2

    I think, by hire vehicle, they mean one you are renting where you are the driver. I, assume, the idea is the taxi ride is short so they are trading off against the likelyhood of an accident, the likely injuries to the child against having to cart the booster seat around with you.

    To me, it also depends on how big the kid is. If he's small you might want to think about taking a booster seat, if he is big then he might be OK. I'm 5ft tall (short) and I'm only just tall enough to be able to ride in the front seat of our car - I'm 58.

    • CMH on 03/02/2020 - 01:42

      So what happens if you're less than 5ft tall?

      Do people less than 5 ft tall need a booster seat to drive? Are there special booster seats for adults, or are they the same ones for kids? Is it still safe if an airbag goes off?

      Damn, sorry for all the questions… Never thought of issues short people have when it comes to driving.

  • mskeggs on 01/02/2020 - 10:26
    +4

    The page you linked has two sections. One about taxis that says a booster is optional, the other about Uber saying a booster is not optional.
    In a taxi, the information about taxis applies.

  • Howdydoo on 01/02/2020 - 11:01
    +1

    You dont need a booster in a taxi. We do it all the time with our kids. For the younger ones we put them on our lap.

    • Wampus on 01/02/2020 - 11:49

      Yep, can confirm, have had this experience as well

  • HardlyCharly on 01/02/2020 - 12:13
    -1

    A 6 year old in a booster seat? Ridiculous. Just say they're 7 if you have to.

    • pjetson on 01/02/2020 - 12:25

      In Victoria, I'm pretty sure it's decided on height, not age.

      • pjetson on 01/02/2020 - 12:28

        Nope, I'm wrong. The law say 7yo, but VicRoads "advises" that adult seat belts don't work properly for people under 145cm tall, and says that most kids don't get that tall until they're 10-12yo.

  • SmiTTy on 01/02/2020 - 13:02

    Even an infant doesn't need a car seat in a taxi. They are exempt.

    Ubers (in contrast) are not and needs to comply with all laws incl appropriate boosters

    • tempura on 01/02/2020 - 13:06

      Even an infant doesn't need a car seat in a taxi. They are exempt.

      i can't see any information about this; do you mind to share the source?

      • Baysew on 01/02/2020 - 13:54

        Children over the age of 12 months are permitted to wear a seatbelt while travelling in a taxi – but parents or taxi service providers may wish to provide and use a child car seat.

        Source is from Website you have shared.

        • tempura on 01/02/2020 - 14:34

          over the age of 12 months is not an infant

          • Baysew on 01/02/2020 - 15:03

            @tempura: Your nephew is a six year old child.

            Does he need booster seat?

            No

            Can he sit just like how adult is seated (with a seat belt)?

            Yes

            However, you may wish to provide one.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/02/2020 - 15:33

    Why not just get a taxi/hire car with a booster seat if your nephew would otherwise require a booster seat as a passenger in his parents car or another vehicle?

  • Love a bargain on 01/02/2020 - 16:01

    Taxi is exempted from the booster seat requirement. The rule applies to hired vehicles (including rental car & uber) and your own cars.

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