Written Reply by Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan to Parliamentary Question on Child Booster Seats in Private Hire Cars

Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling asked the Minister for Transport 

a.     whether the child booster seat sufficiently serves as a safety measure in private hire cars for children below six years old; and

b.     how does the rule differ in this aspect between cars used for personal usage as compared to those on private hire service.

Reply by Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan:

1.     The Traffic Police requires any passenger below 1.35 metres in height to be properly secured by a child restraint appropriate for his or her height and weight. In this regard, a simple booster seat might not adequately secure a very young or short passenger, say, a child who is only one to two years old. A baby seat would be more appropriate. Using the appropriate child restraint reduces the chances of serious or even fatal injuries in an accident. The rule applies equally to both private cars and private hire cars.