Paranoid about safety?

[naturegirl]

My 3yr old's school/creche has arranged an outing for the kids. They will be hiring a taxi and travelling an approx 30km round trip. I asked about seatbelts etc and though the taxi is equipped with seatbelts, I'm being told that I'm rather paranoid and should stop worrying.

Am I being paranoid?

1) When my child is in my car, she is strapped into a car seat
2) when she travels with anyone else (doesn't happen often at all), I provide her carseat

But now my child will be travelling with a complete stranger at the wheel, in a vehicle that has seatbelts but because the kids are little they only use the lap strap and hook the chest strap around the back of the child.

I'm not comfortable with this at all, and have asked if I can atleast provide my child's booster seat so that they can use the full seatbelt on her, and the teacher reckons I am beyond paranoid.

Any input will be appreciated.

 

[AstroTurf]

I don't think you are paranoid.

 

[Bobbin]

I'm not experienced with kids. But a 3yo un/semi/supervised in a taxi (Is this our usual South African accident prone reckless driving Taxi that should be banned we are talking about?), I'd be a little worried.

Are they hiring a new and proper fitted taxi with a qualified, unaffiliated, driver? That would be my first concern.
But I'm also of the opinion adult seatbelts are not designed for 3yo's no matter how you wangle them to fit.
Also 3 years, isn't that a little young for a field trip? I don't know.

So I don't think you are being paranoid.

 

[Venomous]

rather transport your own child or decline the child attending said trip.

even if you provide the full size car seat, they will not use it, coz it means they cannot fit 8 kids on a seat meant for 4 persons....
(the car seat will be left at school.

 

[dunkyd]

Kids outings never go well. Refuse the invite.

 

[Fudzy]

If none of the other parents are worried there is something wrong with them. Three year olds should not be unrestrained in a car.

 

[bwana]

My 3yr old's school/creche has arranged an outing for the kids. They will be hiring a taxi and travelling an approx 30km round trip. I asked about seatbelts etc and though the taxi is equipped with seatbelts, I'm being told that I'm rather paranoid and should stop worrying.

Am I being paranoid?

1) When my child is in my car, she is strapped into a car seat
2) when she travels with anyone else (doesn't happen often at all), I provide her carseat

But now my child will be travelling with a complete stranger at the wheel, in a vehicle that has seatbelts but because the kids are little they only use the lap strap and hook the chest strap around the back of the child.

I'm not comfortable with this at all, and have asked if I can atleast provide my child's booster seat so that they can use the full seatbelt on her, and the teacher reckons I am beyond paranoid.

Any input will be appreciated.

You need to find a new creche for your kid asap. Any school that so blatantly disregards the safety of your kid, and the law, needs to be dealt with.

 

[D3nz]

I would decline the trip...better safe than sorry!

 

[CharlieM]

I haven't thought about this scenario, I don't think you are paranoid, and you have manage to create some paranoia for myself and our newborn aswell You should request that they accept your offer to provide a carseat, it shouldn't make much difference to them

 

[AstroTurf]

Personally I suggest one of 2 things.

Either kid does not go or you go along.

 

[HapticSimian]

I would, quite explicitly, tell said teacher to go do improper things to herself. 'Paranoid' over ensuring your child's safety? In what reality was the 3-point seat belt designed to securely hold a child in place using the lap belt only? Doesn't take a genius to figure that any front or rear impact will have the children folded double like a Sunday newspaper, and there's no telling where they'll be flung to if hit from the side... or their vehicle rolls.

Your child is being taught by a moron.

 

[Ninja'd]

A little but it's understandable.

 

[Shi]

rather transport your own child or decline the child attending said trip.

+1 ... better safe than sorry

 

[supersunbird]

I think you are reasonable.

 

[Debeer165]

Yeah... My kid would be sitting at home for that trip if I were you.

 

[HapticSimian]

Given a moment's more thought, I'd also contact the parents of every child in that class to find out whether they've given the school's transporting arrangement any serious thought whatsoever.

That's a tragic headline waiting to happen.

 

[Spliffcat]

In a Taxi?????? No, I would not put my child in a Taxi.

 

[Lycanthrope]

Well, in Sweden children who are shorter than 135cm must have proper safety equipment (baby seat or child restraint) suitable for their height.

Which I completely agree with.

So... I don't exactly look at this excursion favourably either.

 

[_TrXtR_]

You need to find a new creche for your kid asap. Any school that so blatantly disregards the safety of your kid, and the law, needs to be dealt with.

+1 This.

They willing to push your kid onto some taxi without any safety considerations and saying your paranoid.
Tell them they must stop doing drugs

 

[Venomous]

In a Taxi?????? No, I would not put my child in a Taxi.

the biggest taxis I have heard of can take a max of 16 people, with that being the number of seatbelts then.

I have these vivid images of 2 teachers and 32 kids to a mini bus...