Child passengers

At T J Hire Limited ‘Prestige Chauffeur services’ we pride ourselves in carrying all our passengers in a safe and careful manner no matter how ‘old’ or how ‘young’ they may be.

As from 18 September 2006 ‘new’ laws governing the carriage of children in vehicles generally and with particular reference to those carried in Private Hire vehicles came into being. 

As a company, we have a ‘Duty of Care’ to all our passengers and wish all our clients both current and in the future to be fully assured that we will be implementing these new laws forthwith.

We therefore kindly request that all clients read the passage below which is an extract taken from the legislation:-

Children to use child restraints except in Taxis or Private Hire vehicles
1. The Directive allows for children not to use “child restraints” when travelling in Taxis OR Private Hire vehicles.

The Department of Transport believes it is unreasonable to expect Taxis OR Private Hire vehicles to always have the correct number and size of child restraints; and those travelling with children cannot always provide their own. It has therefore been decided that children
will not have to use “child restraints” when travelling by licensed taxi OR private hire car provided that they do not travel in the front. Children of 3 years and over will continue to have to use an adult belt.

2. The Directive now states that with regards to Taxis AND Private Hire vehicles that;
 “It is the responsibility of the child’s accompanying parent or guardian to agree to allow said child to travel in the vehicle without the appropriate child restraint being present”
Under the above circumstances the ‘standard factory fitted’ seat belts MUST be used as an alternative restraint.

3. Where a child restraint is supplied by the accompanying parent/guardian it has been passed in the relevant legislation that;
“It is the responsibility of the child’s accompanying parent or guardian to correctly fit the child restraint IN PERSON and it is NOT the responsibility of the owner NOR the driver of the Taxi OR Private Hire vehicle”

4. In the references to ‘child’ as above, the definition of ‘child’ is; ‘Any child who is between the age of 3 years and 11 years AND is UNDER 1.35 Metres (4’ 5”) in height.’

5. ‘Child Restraints’ is the collective term for: - Baby Seats….Child Seats…..Booster Seats….Booster Cushions