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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Taxi driver brief argument

98 replies

Seaglassmarie · 03/12/2017 18:39

I may get slated a bit because this involves taxis and car-seats but here it goes anyway.

Me and extended family were going to a restaurant. We booked the taxi and as it's a quiet road and would only be in the car about 5 mins, I made the call that it would be OK for my 1 year old to sit on my lap. We did have a car-seat but as we were taking the buggy already we just thought it was too much faff (hence why I'll probably get slated).

However, when the taxi driver arrived he flat-out refused to let DD in the car without a seat. Now, if this has been his company's private policy and he had explained that to me, I wouldn't have minded. That's fair enough. What annoyed me was his refusal to believe that it was even legal for me to do this. Even when I told him I'd done it before, he was brushing me off with 'oh no that can't have happened before, no'. His whole attitude towards me seemed to imply he thought I was lying about it being legal. It was just so dismissive and he seemed to be trying to hide a laugh at the same time.
DP went to get the car seat obviously, while I tried to show the taxi driver the government legislation on my phone... I know, high-horse, I should of let it go, but I just wanted to understand whether he truly believed it was illegal or whether it was just his taxis policy, but all I got was that air of 'silly woman, you must have misunderstood'.

In the end, we still got where we wanted to go with the car-seat, but AIBU about his attitude towards me ?

OP posts:

Original poster

Seaglassmarie · 03/12/2017 18:41

I've only not had a seat in taxi a few times. It's not a habit and I was a bit shocked I was even allowed to the first time tbh.

OP posts:

Sjmonroe · 03/12/2017 18:44

I've been in taxi a few times without a car seat. You are right it is legal. We were in one just yesterday with my ds who is 17months

ThisLittleKitty · 03/12/2017 18:45

I called a taxi company and always check in advance that it's ok. When I called they said it was ok to take my 3 and 1 year old with no car seat. Didn't in the end as didn't end up needing it.

Anymajordude · 03/12/2017 18:48

You can't always carry car seats around. As taxis are public transport you don't need a seat, you're right. I've travelled without one before.

BatteredBreadedOrSouthernFried · 03/12/2017 18:49

He doesn’t want the death of a baby on husband conscience. I don’t blame him. Company policy or not, I would have refused in his shoes too.

BatteredBreadedOrSouthernFried · 03/12/2017 18:49

On his conscience.

cloudchasing · 03/12/2017 18:49

Taxis are licensed to carry without a car seat. However, it is driver discretion, the same as pets in the taxi.

Ultimately they don't want the responsibility of someone else's child on their conscience I would imagine.

MarthaArthur · 03/12/2017 18:51

I would have refused if i was him too. I thought it was only legal in a black cab as theres enough room for a pram. Eother way i understand the faff but imagine someone crashing into the taxi and your baby flying out of your arms or getting injured by the seatbelt.

BadPolicy · 03/12/2017 18:52

I might be tempted to phone the taxi firm and let them know. It's not good for their reputation to be sending out drivers who don't understand the law.

CaerParavel · 03/12/2017 18:52

I would have refused in his position too

kaytee87 · 03/12/2017 18:54

I thought it was only legal in a black hack too. Do mini cabs count as public transport?

alleypalley · 03/12/2017 18:56

It's totally legal. What if you were already out and he was refusing to take you home. I'd be very cross with that. We don't have a car so never had a car seat

Darkstar4855 · 03/12/2017 19:01

His taxi, his decision. It’s frustrating for you but I can see his point of view (and picture the taxi-driver-caused-my-baby’s-death Daily Fail headlines if an accident did happen). I wouldn’t want it on my conscience.

Viviennemary · 03/12/2017 19:12

YABU. Why should he take a risk. He erred on the side of caution. So you should complain to the company who gave you wrong information.

Ermm · 03/12/2017 19:13

You are annoyed that a taxi driver was more concerned than you about the safety of your child? And pulled out your mobile to make the point that it wasn't illegal.

Wonder what his AIBU would look like??

Witchend · 03/12/2017 19:20

I thought you weren't allowed to hold them, they had to be in their own seat.

confusedlittleone · 03/12/2017 19:22

Tbh he sounds as if he cares more about his child's safety then you... just because somethings legal doesn't mean it's safe or a good idea

JonSnowsWife · 03/12/2017 19:26

Well technically you're both right.

It is legal to carry without a car seat but it is at the drivers discretion.

We had a similar problem earlier this year when DD broke her foot. She was / is 11 but is very tall for her age. She had the huge boot thing on so couldn't walk home and quite literally needed the extra leg room of the front seat (long legs and big camboot thing). Some drivers would happily let her sit in the front as only s short distance, some would refuse point blank. I didn't blame them either way.

Your taxi driver didn't want that on his conscience OP and that's fair enough.

superking · 03/12/2017 19:26

Good for him.

EggysMom · 03/12/2017 19:27

Applies to both taxis and private hire mini-cabs.

Link to UK guidance on matter: www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-a-child-can-travel-without-a-car-seat

JonSnowsWife · 03/12/2017 19:28

I thought it was only legal in a black hack too

No. Legal in any taxi company licensed to carry basically. That includes your local ones, I.e Birmingham cars.

DrussIsTheLegend · 03/12/2017 19:34

Desire you being legally right I'd have done the same as the taxi driver and refused to take you without a seat.

However I wouldn't have tried to hide behind the non-existent law...although he may use this as an excuse because it's easier than trying to explain to people than a moral reason.

cloudchasing · 03/12/2017 19:49

There has to be a little room for manoeuvre sometimes in these situations, on both sides. I can understand why you would be frustrated, but taxi drivers are allowed to have objections to certain things. Believe me, they're as keen to finish the job as you are.

Original poster

Seaglassmarie · 03/12/2017 19:51

I would have been perfectly fine with it if he had explained why he was saying no. If it was company policy or at his own discretion... But he didn't, he said you couldn't do that and basically implied I was making it up. That's was pissed me off, not that he asked me to use a seat.

I can accept I was being U to not use a seat in the taxi, but just feel it would have gone a lot smoother if he could have explained himself instead of dismissing me so bluntly.

I don't drive so don't own a seat, luckily MIL did.

OP posts:

MilfordFound · 03/12/2017 19:51

An unrestrained child turns into a missile in an accident. I wouldn't drive with an unrestrained child, for the child's safety and my own in the event of an accident. I'm with the taxi driver on this one, he's under no obligation to do it and respect to him for refusing. Especially as you had the car seat, why would you not use it?! Who puts their child's life at risk for 2 mins of faff putting a seat in?

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