[UberPlates]

We really need to have regular clarification of certain rules. Some of this has got past me...

I do know there's adifference b/w taxi rules and HC rules in Victoria. I'm just looking at them.
They're in the 'Hire Car Knowledge' PDF (from the Taxi Service Commission).

http://www.taxi.vic.gov.au/__data/a...843/Knowledge-Handbook-Driving-a-Hire-Car.pdf

http://www.taxi.vic.gov.au/__data/a...andbook-General-Understanding-For-Drivers.pdf

The question is, whre do we fit in? And are we taxis, or HCs? Or a blend of the two?
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[UberPlates]

Agreed. I stupidly accepted a rider with a young child (not sure of the age but only a few years old at a guess). The mother (I presume) said the child was sick (I think they had just visited the doctor) and was too upset to be transported in any other way than in her arms. The mother didn't even want to wear a seatbelt herself. She had a European accent (perhaps Spanish?) which may explain her lax attitude towards restraints.

I should have canned the trip there and then. But I stupidly felt sorry for them and insisted instead that she put the belt around both her AND the child. She very reluctantly agreed but used the "every other Uber driver was OK with it" line on me. Grrrrr.

In hindsight? Never, ever, EVER again. Not without the correct capsules, booster seats, seatbelts etc.

For me, lesson learned. Hopefully others will read this and save themselves the grief because I shudder everything I think about this incident and the risk I placed them in by transporting the child this way. Yes, it's tough love to say "No!" but better for them to be told the correct, lawful thing to do than potentially lose their child and then top it off by blaming me. K*

I have a story too, but yours trumps it, so maybe I'll bore people with it later...
(or maybe I already did? In a Brisbane thread? Over a month back? I forget).

Anyway, I'll leave this link here for VICTORIAN DRIVERS... Victorian drivers read these posts too... at least I do.

http://www.taxi.vic.gov.au/__data/a...843/Knowledge-Handbook-Driving-a-Hire-Car.pdf

Yeah, this was for VICTORIAN DRIVERS... Victorian drivers, go to sect. 3.4, take a peek...

Everyone wears a seatbelt. Otherwise it's an offense.
It's the drivers responsibility to ensure people do.
One person per seatbelt. No doubling up allowed.

Victorian taxis are exempt from child car seat requirements,
hire cars are not. Like what Sydney Uber said about NSW...
UberX cars are private cars, so follow normal law to stay legal.

As for transporting passengers under 18 on UberX...
that's a whole other thing.... how can you pick 'em?
Some kids look 18 to me. But how do you know?

We need proper insurance, like the taxis/HCs have...
or else UberX drivers are going to cop it big-time!

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[UberPlates]

UberPlates . . . If you are unsure about the age, ask to see an ID that shows their birthdate. No ID? No ride.

Yeah, you're right UberNorthStar...
It's tricky though, sometimes you drive a fair way just to get to the pickup point, only to find this situation. So if you say 'no ride', you have used up precious time, and have burnt up fuel in the process. You are kinda caught. Do I say 'yes' and maybe land myself in strife, or do I say 'no' and then possibly cop abuse and maybe a bad report to Uber? You can't win.

As for the Sofia Liu case, it is very sad. I already read about it online somewhere, and on UP (can't find it now). Not only was she killed, but her brother was struck too. That's all I want to write about it, but everyone should know about that case. If you don't know the case, look it up.

I crack dumb jokes on this forum a lot, but I have a serious side too, and keeping that in mind, if anyone is driving while tired, or not alert enough, or just not with it, either pull over and nap, or get out of the car and freshen up. Driving is a more dangerous occupation than most people want to admit, don't make it any more dangerous by going about it the wrong way...

I grew up in the bush, and have seen road fatalities up close, one that involved unsecured passengers. I've also been on the scene of a horrific vehicle-pedestrian accident in the Newcastle area one time, and had to assist. Believe me, you never forget it...

Sorry to bring this thread down, probably getting off-topic, but I think that it doesn't hurt to be reminded about this stuff sometimes.

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