The information that people with disabilities, the elderly and passengers with children should give way to is familiar to everyone who uses public transport. But not everyone understands why you need to give way to a child. Up to what age children can not give way and must sit in public transport, and how to combine this with etiquette.
Let's see what safety rules exist and under what circumstances a child should take a seat.
Arguments for"
Even if you strictly adhere to the rules of etiquette, which require children to give way to elders, you need to take into account other rules - the safety of the child should be in the first place.
- In children under 10 years of age, the vestibular apparatus is poorly developed, so it is better for them to occupy a sitting position on a trip.
- If the child’s height is less than one and a half meters, then passengers during boarding and disembarking may simply not notice him.
- The child’s bones have not yet fully strengthened. In children, especially at the age of 2-3, 6-7 and 9-10 years (these are crisis moments of growing up), the risk of fractures is very high.
- The reaction rate in a child is lower than in an adult. Children will not be able to quickly grab the handrail if required.
- Preschool children have a poor balance. Sudden braking can knock a small child off its feet.
- Children get tired very quickly, so long standing in one place can lead to exhaustion.
- If the child is tired, he may begin to act up, thereby distracting the attention of other passengers and the driver.
Child Safety Rules in Public Transport
Seats for passengers with children are allocated for a reason. The main task of the parents of any child is to ensure their safety, and only after that you can think about etiquette.
Let's see in which cases children can stand in public transport:
- The child can independently hold the handrail;
- The child feels well and is able to withstand a long road;
- There is free space around the child and no one pushes him.
And in what cases, a standing trip can harm the child:
- If the child is in danger of being pressed against someone. Especially if the person standing nearby is dressed in a coat with villi, which can clog in the child’s mouth and nasal passages and cause respiratory arrest;
- When there are a lot of people in the salon, they can simply trample into the child;
- If the driver starts abruptly and brakes. This manner of driving can lead to the fall of the child;
- The child is in elementary school and rides with a large backpack behind him. Firstly, it will interfere with the passengers standing nearby.Secondly, it is quite difficult to maintain balance with a backpack, and holding it in one hand and leaning on the handrail with the other is an impossible task for a junior high school student;
- Immediately after school, the child attends the sports section, and a trip on public transport for him is a real opportunity to relax.
Assess the situation in advance. If the child is able to drive several stops while standing, you need to choose a place away from the doors, next to the low handrail. If there are a lot of people in the cabin, then it is better not to put a small child in a separate place, but to pick it up in your hands. If the bus is crowded, it is better not to go into the cabin with the baby, but wait for the next one or walk a couple of stops.
In some cases, you can use the stroller. In modern models of buses and trams, a special platform for children's vehicles is provided, where you can fasten the stroller, providing the child with additional safety.
We also read: Children in public transport: who should give in to whom
