As a parent, you know the importance of practicing car seat safety. Yet, when it comes to ridesharing, studies are finding many parents don’t use car seats. Likewise, an undercover news investigation discovered that some rideshare drivers do not follow state car seat laws. Why is this the case?
Not only are car seats bulky and cumbersome, but car seat laws vary greatly from one state to the next. Often, families utilize ridesharing services when they are traveling. In this case, it is hard for parents to know which states have which car seat laws.
Ultimately, it is up to the parent to make safe ridesharing choices, but we’re here to help you navigate ridesharing and carpooling with car seats and booster seats.
Does Uber Provide Car Seats for Kids?
The popular ridesharing service Uber does provide car seats for kids. Uber Car Seat provides a car seat in UberX vehicles for an additional $10 fee. Uber Car Seat provides one forward-facing car seat for a child who is at least 12 months old, 22 pounds, and 31 inches. Children are too big for Uber Car Seats when they are 48 pounds or 52 inches. However, this service is only offered in New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Orlando.
Does Lyft Offer Car Seats for Kids?
Lyft currently only offers car seats in New York City. If you use Lyft for ridesharing with your children, Lyft states, that your children must “have the proper car seats that fit legal requirements in your state and city. Plan on providing your own car seat for children that require one.”
When Ridesharing, Think Like a Parent, Ride Like a Parent
When it comes to ridesharing services, parents should think like parents. Since we know car seats (and booster seats when they outgrow car seats) protect children in car accidents, we should make sure the cars they are riding in have them available.
When you book a rideshare, ask the driver if a car seat is available. If you do not have a car seat and one is not available, try another ride. If there is a car seat, check it to make sure it is properly installed. Make sure you buckle your child in correctly just as you would in your own vehicle.
Carpooling your kids? Use the same logic
Similarly, when you are sharing the rides with other parents and are using services like GoKid to carpool, you must make sure the kids who ride in your car are safely restrained and that the other carpool parents follow the same car seat safety rules. Make sure everyone in your carpool circle follows Consumer Reports’ Tips for Safe Carpooling.
Take Your Own Booster Seat When Carpooling or Ridesharing
The more popular option is to take your own rather than rely on the rideshare service to provide one. Fortunately, there are many lightweight options for booster seats that make it easier to transfer from one vehicle to the next. There are even inflatable booster seats, such as BubbleBum, making car seat safety convenient for those traveling.
Check out Kids Ride Safe
Finally, Kids Ride Safe offers state-by-state guidance to help parents better understand car seat laws and ridesharing in the state where they are driving. Additionally, this website also offers resources for parents on the appropriate child restraint system based on size and state regulations.
