All school taxis to receive child car seats
Thursday, September 14 2006
Scottish Borders Council’s Education Department is investing in child car seats for all taxi firms across the region which are contracted to drive children to school.
This is ahead of the new law which comes into force on 18 September requiring all children under the age of 12 to use some form of child car seat, unless they are more than 135cm (4ft 5ins) tall.
“Throughout the Scottish Borders we have many regular and planned school runs undertaken by taxis everyday,” explained the Education Department’s Facilities and Contracts Manager, Caroline Jackson. “Despite the fact that there is an exemption for taxis under the new legislation, we have taken steps to ensure the safe passage of children and decided to issue child restraints to all school taxi service providers.”
Executive Spokesman for Education, Councillor Andrew Farquhar, commented, “We are taking this new legislation very seriously and are committed to making sure children have the correct car seat restraints during their journeys to school. We will be providing taxi firms across the region with around 300 car seats in total. There is not too high a price for child safety; parents have this responsibility and we certainly do as well.”
The Scottish Borders Road Safety Working Group has distributed leaflets containing vital information on the new car seat safety laws to all schools and nurseries in the region. Children will receive these leaflets this week and parents are being urged to take the time to read the leaflet thoroughly.
Ron Elliot, SBC’s Road User Manager and Chairman of the Scottish Borders Road Safety Working Group, said, “We have the responsibility to ensure parents and any other individuals who regularly make journeys with children in their cars are fully informed of the requirements under these new laws. The leaflets contain details and exceptions of the legislation, as well as examples of the type of seat required for children according to weight and age. It is important that parents make sure they read the leaflet and make sure their car restraints meet the regulations.”
Under the new car seat legislation, children under three years of age must use the child restraint appropriate for their weight in any vehicle including vans and other goods vehicles. There is only one exception:
* A child under three may travel unrestrained in the rear of a taxi if the right child restraint is not available.
In vehicles where seat belts are fitted, children of three years to 135cms (or 12 years and under, whichever they reach first) must use the appropriate child restraint. Three exceptions allow these children to travel in the rear only and use an adult belt:
For a short distance in an unexpected necessity, if the right child restraint is not available.
*Where two occupied child seats in the rear prevent the fitting of a third child seat.
*In a taxi, if the right child restraint is not available.
In all circumstances, rear-facing baby seats must notbe used in a seat protected by a frontal air-bag unless the air-bag has been deactivated manually or automatically. Children of 12 years or over, or younger children taller than 135cm not using a child restraint, must wear an adult seat belt.
It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that all children are properly restrained whilst travelling in their vehicle. The Government believes this new law could save up to 2,000 children per year from death or injury in road accidents.
For more information, please call the Road Safety Unit on 01835 823036 or log onto www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk.
Unified Solutions.