Police report Uber driver for allowing infant aged under three to travel on rider's lap unrestrained
Updated: Aug 13, 2022
An Uber driver was stopped and reported by police in Coventry for allowing an infant under the age of three to travel unsecured by a booster seat or seatbelt.
The driver of the private hire vehicle (PHV) was pulled over by Coventry City Centre Police Officers on 4 August for the ‘manner’ of their driving.
Upon inspection officers found an infant under three-years-old unsecured and sitting on the lap of passenger. The driver was reported.
A Coventry City Centre Police spokesperson said via social media: “Taxi driver stopped for manner of driving in Coventry City Centre.
“Driver reported for allowing a infant child under the age of three to sit on the lap of a passenger without being secured by a booster seat or wearing seat-belt.”
TaxiPoint reached out for further details. There are some exemptions for taxi and PHV drivers when it comes to seatbelt usage for both drivers and some passengers.
Coventry City Centre Police confirmed that an offence had taken place and the driver reported, due to there being no fixed partition between the driver and the rear passenger.
The law requires that drivers and passengers aged 14 and over in cars, vans and other commercial vehicles must wear a seatbelt, if available. However, taxi and PHV drivers are exempt from this rule only when working.
As a driver you are responsible for making sure that anyone under the age of 14 wears a seat belt or uses the right child restraint as required by law.
In a taxi or PHV a child under three must never travel in the front seat unrestrained. However, an infant under-three can travel in the rear seats, when the recommended child seats and seatbelts are not available.
For children aged between three and twelve-years-old the child MUST wear an adult seatbelt if the recommended seat fittings are not available.
