What are the car seat laws in Bahamas, buses in Florida or how to I get around?

Question

More specific:

My family and I and some friends are going on a cruise soon to Florida, then Nassau Bahamas and Grand Bahama Island.

We want to book excursions, but we all have 1 son each couple, at about 2 years old each.

How do we get around? I don't want to hold him on my lap for obvious reasons in the car.

We want to get from the ship to 1 other place and back at each location but I'm seeing issues here.

The cruise line couldn't even answer me!!!

Any opinions?

Thanks !!

Answer 1

In most places (including Florida) the car seat laws don't apply on modes of public transportation, and I'm quite sure the laws in the Bahamas are incredibly poor, or lax, where car seats are concerned. However - that is definitely NOT the biggest worry. The laws of physics don't change, and your children will still be just as inured even killed in public transportation (or any transportation for that matter!) as they would at home, and should be protected the same. Bring car seats. Buses are a bad plan, since most don't have belts (unlses its a charter bus, and even then chances are slim). There are some things you just can not DO with children - buses are one of them, b/c they have no way for a child to be restrained most of the time. How bout a rental car? But take your own seats, rental seats are dangerous. If you're going in with several other couples, rent a van for the day. It would also make toting belongings and strollers much easier to have your own vehicle for the day rather than a bus. Unless I'm misunderstanding - are you trying to book a tour that specifically uses its own vehicle? Then I'm sorry to say, if my child were under 6, I wouldn't do  it. Not worth the risk.

Depending upon the kids sizes, at age 2, there's a good chance they'll still fit in a $40 Cosco Scenera from Walmart. It doesn't last a real long time as a forward facing seat, b/c it has short top harness slots (14.5 inches) and only goes to 40lbs, but its also incredibly cheap, so its not that big a deal. Its also lightweight and about as small as convertible car seats get. Fairly easy to install, as well.

If they're already too big for the Scenera b/c their shoulders are above the top slots or they're above 40lbs, then try the Graco Nautilus, its pricier, at $150, but will last a long time. OR, just suck it up and take the seats you have, just don't let a baggage handler get to them - most don't realize that tossing a car seat around can easily damage it so that it won't keep a child safe.

Answer 2

I wouldn't worry much about Bahamas' laws about car seats. They're, um, fairly laid back about that sort of thing.

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t...

That said, the same laws of physics apply, so you may want to bring one anyway.  Much safer.

As for public transport in Florida, buses and trains are very safe forms of transportation; because of their bulk and weight, they absorb much of the force of a crash.  This is why they don't have to have seatbelts, which makes it impossible to use a car seat anyway.

http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/404_h...

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Thousands of parents face fines of up to £500 because of widespread confusion about new child-seat laws which come into effect from next Monday.

Those whose children are aged up to 11 must be properly strapped in to an appropriate child or booster seat.

Yet polls show that up to two out of three parents haven't got to grips with the new laws which will affect them if they carry their - or anyone else's children - in their car.

And some expert groups are even calling on the Government to delay the introduction of the new rules - brought in so that the Uk complies with an EU directive - until ministers have cleared up the 'muddle'.

From Monday, nearly every child under the age of 12 will have to use an approved child restraint while travelling in a car - unless they are more than 4ft 5 inches (135cm tall).

Parents who refuse to co-operate - or are unable to persuade their children to sit on a booster seat - will face fines.

Police have the power to hand out £30 on the spot fines to those parents spotted breaking the law. But parents whose cases reach court face fines of up to £500.

The only exception will be motorists who can show they are reacting to a one-off 'unforeseen emergency', such as a trip to the doctors or hospital, or arguably having a child foisted on them unexpectedly for a short trip; children travelling in a licensed taxi; or if there are three children in a car with two child seats and there is no room for a third. In the front seat, a child seat must always be used. But use of rear-facing restraints are prohibited where there is an front active air-bag.

Ministers say changes will prevent 2,000 child injuries and deaths every year. But critics say the rules - like those for mobile phones- will be difficult or troublesome to enforce. Many parents will also inadvertently find themselves breaking the law.

The Department of Transport said it believed police would take a 'common sense approach' to the new rules.

But policing could vary widely from area to area, from hard-line to a a softly-softly approach.

A DfT Spokesman said:'Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police and we are sure they will adopt a common-sense approach.'

The Department for transport said the new law did provide an exemption for parents faced with an 'unexpected necessity' - for example, a parent asking a friend without a spare child restraint to pick up their child from school at short notice.

A spokesman said:'There is an exemption for a child of 3 years or more to wear an adult belt on a short journey when no appropriate child seat is available.

'The exemption is not intended to cover regular school runs or other journeys that are planned in advance.'

The new EU rules, now enshrined into UK law, are far more explicit that the rules they replace.

From Monday, children aged two or less can travel in the front or back of a car only with a European Union safety approved child seat.

From their third birthday, they must use a child restraint in the rear seats if the car has seat belts.

Children aged four to six must have a suitable booster seat. Those between six and 12, or up to a height of 4ft 5 ins (135cm) must have a booster cushion. These booster seats and cushions, costing between £10 and £30, raise the child to a height where the seatbelt crosses the correct part of their chest, to reduce injury to a child's soft tissues in the event of a collision.

Baby seats, child seats, booster seats and booster cushions are defined by the weight of the child and their approximate age range.

The new rules are a dramatic change from existing law which effectively covers only children under the age of three sitting in the front of a car. All other categories of children have, until now, been covered by a clause which says children aged 11 or under must be in a child seat 'if this is available.'

This means that no crime has been committed unless a child seat is fitted and the child is not using it.

Latest figures show 42 children aged under 11 were killed while travelling in cars, 708 were seriously injured and 9,766 slightly injured.

Pat Harris, director of child safety group BUSK said:'These new laws are confusing many parents. They are not as clear as they could be. We believe ministers should delay their introduction.'

Research by Churchill Insurance says two thirds of parents are ignorant of the new law believing, wrongly, that children won't need a child seat after the age of seven.

A survey by Vauxhall showed 1 in 3 mums being completely unaware of the new law. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said parents must familiarise themselves with the new rules:'This law will make children much safer in cars.'

Road safety minister Stephen Ladyman said:'Children are not small adults. Making sure that they keep using child-seats and boosters until they are 4ft 5 inches in height will mean that they are properly secured for their own safety.'

The Local Government Association said council officers will be out in force to help parents familiarise themselves with the new rules