Car seat for taxi journey?

[rrreow]

DS is 9 months old. We're going on the train to visit a friend in Brighton soon. Her house is a 5 minute drive from the station or about a 20-30 minute walk. If it's nice weather I will certainly walk, but I can't be sure so may end up taking a taxi (and on the way back it will be dark, so would probably opt for the taxi at that point too).

Taking our regular pushchair will be most convenient on the train, but I am wondering whether due to the taxi journey I should be taking a car seat instead? I'd much prefer the pushchair (so would DS, he doesn't like the car seat!) but don't want to break the law (what is the law on this?) or be refused by the taxi company?!! What should I do?

Here is the law-

Children under three: until his third birthday, your baby or toddler must use a child car seat appropriate for his weight in any vehicle (including vans and other goods vehicles) regardless of whether he is sitting in the front or the back. If you can't fit a child seat for your baby or toddler then he can't travel legally.

Are there any exceptions?

Children under three: there is only one exception to the law for children under three. If you are travelling in the rear of a taxi and you don't have a car seat with you, your baby or toddler can travel without a seatbelt.

I personally would take the car seat, there is no way I would take the risk of my DS been hurt or injured in an accident for the sake of convenience no matter how short the journey was. I don't know if there are cab companies that have car seats, perhaps someone else would know or you could make enquiries?

taxis are exempt from the car seat laws. Some taxi firms carry car seats but you would need to check in advance whether they did and whether it was the correct one for your lo's age/weight.

Children under 3 years old Correct child restraint MUST be used.

If one is not available in a taxi, then the child may travel unrestrained in the rear

Do you have a car seat which fits onto your pushchair? That would probably be the best solution.

Brighton has a number of 'black cabs' and similar shapes where you just keep the child in the pushchair and strap the pushchair in place like a wheelchair - they're travelling backwards and meeting all regs.

A few months back we managed to get a cab at the station to fit 2 pushchairs, and phoned one to return, with no problem.

Thanks for the information all! I've sent a few enquiries to local taxi firms to see whether I can book a black cab type car or a normal car but with a car seat provided (I'm not going to Brighton station itself, but rather a small station that doesn't have taxis outside). If I can book something in advance I'll take the pram, if not I'll take the car seat (it does go onto the pushchair, it's just less ideal than the regular seat, as the car seat only stays on in a reclined position) and get a taxi on the day. Totally agree about being safe, even on a short journey.