Driving with an infant or child in Trinidad and Tobago

stikid09 · Postby **stikid09** » February 1st, 2017, 7:34 am

The laws of Trinidad and Tobago make it mandatory for drivers to properly secure infants and children, once they are traveling in a motor vehicle.

Section 43D of the Motor Vehicles And Road Traffic Act Chap. 48:50 provides as follows:

(1) The driver of a motor vehicle referred to in section 43A(1) shall:

(a) not, without reasonable excuse, drive his vehicle while there is in the front seat of the vehicle a child of five years of age and under; and

(b) ensure that a child—

– (i) under six months of age, be restrained in a properly fastened and adjusted, rearward facing child restraint;

– (ii) over six months and under four years of age, be restrained in a properly fastened and adjusted, rearward facing child restraint or a forward facing child restraint that has an in-built harness; and

– (iii) over four years and under five years of age, be restrained in a properly fastened and adjusted, forward facing child restraint that has an in-built harness or an approved booster seat that is properly positioned and fastened

The Act does not apply to taxis or public service vehicles (a motor vehicle used for carrying passengers for hire or reward, whether at separate and distinct fares for their respective places or not).

(3) Subsection (1)(b) shall not apply to the driver of a public service vehicle.

Any driver who fails to observe the law in this area is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $2,000.

If a child is unable to sit in a car seat for medical reasons, the driver must provide evidence of such from a practicing doctor:

(5) The driver of a motor vehicle shall not be guilty of an offence under this section:

(a) if he proves that the child held a valid certificate signed by a medical practitioner to the effect that it is inadvisable on medical grounds for the child to be placed in a child restraint or booster seat and the certificate shall be valid for a period of not more than two years from the date of issue; or

(b) where there is only one row of seats in the vehicle.

The Association of Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Companies gives guidelines on the types of restraints that may be best suited for infants and young children:

The safest car seat is one that best fits your child and your car and is easiest for you to use. However, if a car seat is not properly installed or used incorrectly, it can still present safety problems. Though most parents move their child from a rear-facing to a forward-facing position when he reaches 12 months and 20 pounds, this is the minimum age and weight requirement for facing forward. Experts say that the longer you keep your child in a rear-facing position, the safer he’ll be (that’s because, in a frontal collision, the stress on a forward-facing child’s neck can injure his spine).

by Jason Nathu. Source: http://nathulaw.com/driving-with-an-inf ... nd-tobago/

tourniquet · Postby **tourniquet** » February 1st, 2017, 8:52 am

That's too much to read for most locals. Do you have it in soca format?

Les Bain · Postby **Les Bain** » February 1st, 2017, 9:03 am

I do wish they would enforce that law though. Nothing worse than being stuck behind a terribly distracted driver and realizing it due to the young child standing on the centre of the back seat either vying for attention or wanting to see the road.

Dizzy28 · Postby **Dizzy28** » February 1st, 2017, 9:23 am

Seen police stop a car once for no car seat in Aranguez. Ppl had one in the trunk.

Trinis rather risk their kids lives than do the right thing even when they have the resources.

88sins · Postby **88sins** » February 1st, 2017, 9:49 am

tourniquet wrote:That's too much to read for most locals. Do you have it in soca format?

Redman · Postby **Redman** » February 1st, 2017, 12:26 pm

So in last weeks accident on the PBR who contributed to the childrens death?

The idiot driver that broke the red light and slammed into them...
Or the parents that didnt properly secure them??

Parents have the obligation to secure their children properly......if the kids were not secured in that accident ....they should charge both drivers with their deaths.

Yes it harsh but the CG fellow made the decision...the kids payed with their life.

Postby **Duane 3NE 2NR** » February 1st, 2017, 12:39 pm

They could quite possibly still be alive today if they were in proper seats and buckled in.

Chimera · Postby **Chimera** » February 1st, 2017, 12:59 pm

yup

alot of people saying that due to the force of the accident..they wudda die anyway

but they would have had a far greater chance of survival if they didnt get pelt out of the car

the father is the only one survive and he was the only one wearing seatbelt

a accident at even a low speed with a child not restrained will end up in the child being easily damaged or killed

i could never understand why "intelligent" people would put their children at risk so
plenty of them justification is "so if someone cant afford a car or childseat then how they suppose to get around"
and "so why taxis and maxis exempt from childseat"

rspann · Postby **rspann** » February 1st, 2017, 1:55 pm

I bought a car that was written off by an insurance company . The only thing I did with it was to change two left doors and repair a little piece of the left wheel arch. Took two days to complete the job. When I found out the reason the car was refused by the previous owner, her child was killed in the accident. Flew through the other side open window and landed under a car in the road. I found all the colouring books and crayons the child was using in the car at the time of the accident. The damage was so minor, nobody should have been even hurt in that incident.

Redman · Postby **Redman** » February 1st, 2017, 2:39 pm

Child seats should be in the rear center as well.

Postby **Duane 3NE 2NR** » February 1st, 2017, 3:06 pm

Redman wrote:Child seats should be in the rear center as well.

ideally yes, but what to do if you have twins?

Chimera · Postby **Chimera** » February 1st, 2017, 3:20 pm

leave one home

Redman · Postby **Redman** » February 1st, 2017, 8:32 pm

Point on the twins...are there double decker car seats?
I drive differently with my son in the car-frankly I am willing to leave earlier,change routes etc where possible... call me paranoid but if yuh fraid powder dont play mas... If I there is an intersection that is notorious I would be doubly cautious and cede right away happily....