Bus regarding baby in a car seat

spider_pig

Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on the legal requirement of babies in a car seat traveling on a bus

I've just been made put my 9 week old baby who is in her car seat sideways on my lap on a bus Eireann bus with no possible way to strap her in which is in no way safe at all to free up a seat

Legally is this allowed?

Also I will be complaining tomorrow about two of there drivers who yestersay with a full bus were using there mobile phones while traveling 100kph, which I recorded them doing
putting everyone's lives at risk

So I'm wondering about the car seat issue have I a case there also?

nuac

I don't know what the regs are re baby car seats on buses.

I travel on buses, and find the drivers always helpful and considerate of passengers.

I remember when there were bus conductors who collected fares, and looked after passengers requests.

A driver has to to all that now, as well as driver the bus

spider_pig

Ive Never had the issue before on this bus with the car seat, if the bus was full it was full i was always left alone

But today the driver insisted the car seat go on my lap which is not safe at all she would have no seat belt on her
all he cared about was getting an extra person on even tho there was a good few people refused

ScouseMouse

I think this is one of those no-win situations gor the bus company.

Did you pay for a seat for the child?
If not, do you expect them to turn away an extra (paying) customer so you could have your comfort?

I agree about the mobiles though. Thats wrong, but if you paid for a seat for the baby seat, then you are entitled to it. You are not entitled to deprive someone on a bus because you dont want the child on your knee. Try that with an aeroplane and see how far you get.

spider_pig

superscouse wrote: »

I think this is one of those no-win situations gor the bus company.

Did you pay for a seat for the child?
If not, do you expect them to turn away an extra (paying) customer so you could have your comfort?

I agree about the mobiles though. Thats wrong, but if you paid for a seat for the baby seat, then you are entitled to it. You are not entitled to deprive someone on a bus because you dont want the child on your knee. Try that with an aeroplane and see how far you get.

It's noting got to do with comfort its a safety issue she's 9 weeks old on my knee is not safe at all
it's a child's life at risk
if anything happens the child was not in a car seat with a seat belt on who's to blame there?

the regulations which I have found on the rsa website state that a child age 3 and up is required by law to use a seat belt on a bus and the parent can be fined up to €2000 and the driver €5000 for not enforcing it
http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Your-Vehicle/About-your-Vehicle/Example-of-non-Dup/Seat-belts--child-restraints-/

A child of 3 years of age does not pay on a bus either and has a right to a seat by law what's different with a baby and a car seat?

http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Road-Safety/Campaigns/Current-road-safety-campaigns/No-Child-Car-Seat---No-Excuse/The-Law/

Kevin3

spider_pig wrote: »

It's noting got to do with comfort its a safety issue she's 9 weeks old on my knee is not safe at all
it's a child's life at risk
if anything happens the child was not in a car seat with a seat belt on who's to blame there?

I'd say you would be to blame. If you want to put your child on a car seat you should buy an extra seat.

spider_pig wrote: »

the regulations which I have found on the rsa website state that a child age 3 and up is required by law to use a seat belt on a bus and the parent can be fined up to €2000 and the driver €5000 for not enforcing it
http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Your-Vehicle/About-your-Vehicle/Example-of-non-Dup/Seat-belts--child-restraints-/

A child of 3 years of age does not pay on a bus either and has a right to a seat by law what's different with a baby and a car seat?

http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Road-Safety/Campaigns/Current-road-safety-campaigns/No-Child-Car-Seat---No-Excuse/The-Law/

Correct. For buses only children of 3 years and over are required to wear a seatbelt. The newest legislation is here.

There is no law that says a child of 3 years has a right to a seat.

spider_pig

Kevin3 wrote: »

I'd say you would be to blame. If you want to put your child on a car seat you should buy an extra seat.



Correct. For buses only children of 3 years and over are required to wear a seatbelt. The newest legislation is here.

There is no law that says a child of 3 years has a right to a seat.

Yes but how is a child to wear this seat belt if they have no seat, a seat belt is designed for use by one person at a time

Kevin3

spider_pig wrote: »

Yes but how is a child to wear this seat belt if they have no seat, a seat belt is designed for use by one person at a time

You would buy the seat for the child.

Quickly looking at Bus Eireann's website when you click the info button beside the child ticket they give their terms:

Child tickets are valid for children under the age of 16.

One child under the age of 3 will be carried free if accompanied by and in the charge of a fare-paying passenger, provided that the child does not occupy a seat to the exclusion of another passenger.

Where doubt exists as to the eligibility of a child for a reduced fare, it is the responsibility of the passenger claiming the child fare to produce evidence of age.

Children under 12 years of age will NOT be carried, unless accompanied by a responsible person over the age of 16, on the following categories of Bus Éireann services: All Expressway services - as detailed in Expressway timetable booklet.

Non-Expressway services where the intended journey of the child passenger exceeds 50 kilometres.

If you want to guarantee a seat for your child you should buy it. They are not legally obliged to provide you one.

ScouseMouse

spider_pig wrote: »

It's noting got to do with comfort its a safety issue she's 9 weeks old on my knee is not safe at all
it's a child's life at risk
if anything happens the child was not in a car seat with a seat belt on who's to blame there?

the regulations which I have found on the rsa website state that a child age 3 and up is required by law to use a seat belt on a bus and the parent can be fined up to €2000 and the driver €5000 for not enforcing it
http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Your-Vehicle/About-your-Vehicle/Example-of-non-Dup/Seat-belts--child-restraints-/

A child of 3 years of age does not pay on a bus either and has a right to a seat by law what's different with a baby and a car seat?

http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Road-Safety/Campaigns/Current-road-safety-campaigns/No-Child-Car-Seat---No-Excuse/The-Law/

I have just read both the links you have given and I cannot see anywhere they back up your argument.
Also nowhere it says you are to be given a free seat.

Where does it say it for someone UNDER 3?

notharrypotter

SI 240 of 2006 its half way down the first link.
It defines a child as anyone under 1.5m and 36kg so most under 3's are covered.

“child” means a person who is under 150 centimetres in height and weighs less than 36 kilograms;
“child restraint system” means a device designed for use by a child of not more than 36 kilograms in weight comprising either -
(a) a combination of straps or flexible components with a securing buckle, adjusting device attachments and in some cases either or both a supplementary chair and impact shield, capable of being anchored by means of its own integral strap or straps, or
(b) a partial restraint which, when used in conjunction with a safety belt which passes around the body of the child or restrains the device in which the child is placed, forms a complete child-restraint system,
and so designed as to diminish the risk of injury to the wearer, in the event of a collision or of abrupt deceleration of the vehicle, by limiting the mobility of the wearer's body;

Small PSV types have specefic mention of under 3's.

Subject to Regulation 11, every adult occupant of a seat in a relevant vehicle for which a safety belt is provided shall wear the safety belt.
(2) The driver of the vehicle shall ensure that persons under 17 years of age comply with this Regulation.

Subject to paragraph (2), a person shall not drive a relevant vehicle with a child under 3 years of age on board unless the child is restrained by an appropriate child restraint system.
(2) A child under 3 years of age may be carried in a small public service vehicle, on a seat other than a front seat, if no appropriate child restraint system is available

There are specific mentions of larger buses

Wearing of Safety Belts and Child Restraint Systems in Vehicles of Categories M2 and M3

9. (1) This Regulation applies to the use of a seat which is fitted with a safety belt in a vehicle of category M2 or M3.
(2) Subject to Regulation 11, every adult and every child of 3 years of age or more occupying a seat shall wear a safety belt or an appropriate child restraint system.
(3) A person (other than a person under 14 years of age) who fails to comply with this Regulation commits an offence.
(4) The driver of a large public service vehicle is not obliged to carry a passenger who, without showing reasonable just cause, fails to comply this Regulation.

There seems to be no clear mention for under 3's.

However it would appear to indicate that the driver can request you purchase a second seat and to secure the child seat there; failure to comply should mean you cannot be carried.

From the other post it seems thet Bus Eireann will facilitate you but not to the detremiant of paying customers.