Tips for Taxis & Travel: Car Seats, Boosters & Vests that are SAFE & CONVENIENT

AVOID REGRETS: TIPS FOR SAFE TAXI TRAVEL

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In NYC in 2000 (the most recent year for which data are available) 2,600 children were injured in 17,000 taxi-related accidents.  Studies show that NYC taxi passengers are 2.5 times more likely to be seriously injured or killed than the passengers in the other vehicle involved in the crash. 

Accidents happen - but you can prevent injuries.  Have NO REGRETS; protect your children. Make sure that quick taxi ride to school or a playdate doesn't send your child to the hospital. 

DO:

• Keep kids rear-facing as long as possible - it's 5 times safer than forward-facing - even for 3-year-olds!
• Keep kids in a 5-point harness car seat as long as possible
• Use a booster until the child passes the 5-step test

DON'T

• Let anyone ride UNrestrained.  A seat belt is ALWAYS better than nothing.
• Buckle two people in one belt.  Things in a crash weigh their weight times the speed of a crash.  An adult will weigh several thousand pounds, crushing a child sitting on their lap or carried on their chest.
• Put the shoulder belt behind the child's back or under the arm.This removes all head & chest protection
• Forget your own seat belt.  Restrained passengers are 4 times more likely to die if one person in the car is not restrained, as the unrestrained person becomes a human missile.

REAR-FACING CAR SEAT OPTIONS
INFANT SEATS (with weight limits of 30-35 pounds)
All will fit onto at least one stroller, with the Graco/Teutonia & Chicco fitting onto the widest variety of strollers. Please see this car seat/stroller compatibility chart for details on strollers for the Britax/Graco/Chicco/Peg Perego seats.

• Baby Trend Flex-Loc 30 
• *Note: base will not install securely in many cars*
• Britax Chaperone 
• Chicco Key Fit 30 
• Evenflo Serenade 
• Graco Snug Ride 35 or Teutonia T-tario 35 
• Peg Perego SIP 30/30  
• *Note: base will not install securely in many cars*
• Safety 1st OnBoard 35 & OnBoard 35 Air

CONVERTIBLE SEATS

• Combi Coccoro 
• Rear-facing 5-33 lbs, forward to 40 lbs. 
• Lightweight (11 lbs)
• Fits on the Combi Coccoro Flash stroller frame
• Sit N' Stroll 
• Rear-facing 5-30 lbs, forward to 40 lbs 
• Has stroller wheels built in. 
• **Sit N' Stroll will not install securely rear-facing or forward-facing in many cars.**
  

FORWARD-FACING CAR SEAT OPTIONS
FORWARD-FACING ONLY SEAT 

• Safety 1st Go Hybrid (formerly the Safeguard Go)
• 5-point harness for kids up to 60 lbs (booster to 100 lbs)
• Needs the top tether (when using 5-point harness)
• Lightweight (9 lbs) & comes in a travel bag.

CONVERTIBLE SEATS (see above rear-facing section, as these seats go both rear & forward facing)

BOOSTER SEAT & VEST OPTIONS
4-8 year olds are 59% safer in boosters than with just a seat belt. Boosters keep the seat belt on the strongest parts of the body (hip bones and collar bone) - and best of all require no installation. Here are a few backless boosters & one vest that all weigh less than 5 pounds (making them easy to take in a taxi).

VEST

• Safe Traffic System Ride Safer Travel Vest (1.4 lbs) 
• This vest functions like a booster seat to keep the vehicle's seat belt properly positioned on the child's body & is so compact it will fit in a small purse

BACKLESS BOOSTERS 

• Combi Kobuk backless (4.5 lbs) Booster
• Cosco Ambassador & High Rise Booster
• Evenflo Big Kid AMP Booster 
• Graco TurboBooster backless Booster 
• Harmony Baby Armor (3.3 lbs) & Lite Rider (2.8 pounds) Boosters