Sue
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Posts: 47
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Post by Sue on Jul 20, 2005 19:03:44 GMT 1
I was hoping that somebody would be able to tell me what the laws are with regard to children in cars. On 3 previous trips with our grandson we brought a small seat with us by air (we carried it on as hand luggage). On another occasion we arranged one with the car hire company. This September we are flying to Zadar and hadn't intended to hire a car as we have one available. We will probably just buy 1 & leave it there for future trips but we need to take a taxi to our house, will they take a 1 year old without a car seat? Do you think it is possible that we could arrange a taxi with that facility?
Sue
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midge
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Posts: 89
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Post by midge on Jul 20, 2005 19:29:21 GMT 1
I'm quite sure they will take the baby, as long as someone is holding him/her. Arraging a taxi with a seat for the child could be tricky.
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Post by EMIZZZZAGREB on Jul 20, 2005 19:41:53 GMT 1
You have to remember, this is the Balkans, 90% of children are jumping around the back seats without any sort of belt, 80% of motorcyclists do not wear helmets, nobody is going to give you any problems, of course you should secure your child in.
The only problem is silly season has started early and the cops are in overdrive slapping fines left right and centre as instructed by the government in a vain attempt to get Croatia's economy out of its current problems.
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Post by noddy on Jul 20, 2005 23:19:15 GMT 1
EMIZ, you're wrong!
i won't talk about motorcyclists, bcs i don't know about them. but as far as children are concerned, all that i know of are seated in the seats. yes, there are always exceptions, but the great majority is in the seats and fastened. i don't have any numbers that would back me up, but i can't believe that my experience would be soooo different from the real picture (and i do take notice of kids in cars!)
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Post by noddy on Jul 20, 2005 23:23:08 GMT 1
as for the law... there is a law and according to it a child needs to be in the seat. having someone to hold them isn't good enough. nevertheless, it would be really unusual if the police would make any problems if the child is not in the seat in the taxi. finding a taxi with a child seat.... well, that would be even more unusual, if not impossible.
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Post by EMIZZZZAGREB on Jul 20, 2005 23:45:26 GMT 1
I drive in Zagreb everyday when I am in Zagreb, which is still about 50% of the time, everyday I see kids jumping around on the back seat, or babies being carried in the arms of a passenger.
It's very noticeable, as for motorbikes, how can you not see them? Very few people wear a helmet, that would be too un cool and would get in the way of the tan.
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Post by noddy on Jul 20, 2005 23:49:58 GMT 1
no, no, of course i SEE motorcyclists, i just don't take so much notice of them and i couldn't tell whether i see more of them with or without helmets.
as for the babies - yes, i sometimes see them jumping around or being held, but not as a rule. and i drive every single day. maybe the thing is that you usually don't even spot the kids that are seated properly? they are not so visible.
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andyb
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by andyb on Jul 21, 2005 0:18:15 GMT 1
Sue,
I have only just seen your posting. You mention that you will be flying into Zadar - could you tell me which airline you will be travelling with, as my wife's family live there and up till now, all we've heard, is that somebody is due to start flying into Zadar but no firm details.
Regards, Andy.
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Post by Richard Jones on Jul 21, 2005 9:08:08 GMT 1
Message for andyb. First Choice air fly weekly on Sundays to Zadar from London Gatwick via Dubrovnik. I know because I've just done the round trip. The fare was £149 ret. but this was booked several months in advance. Hope this helps. Richard.
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Sue
Full Member
Posts: 47
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Post by Sue on Jul 21, 2005 17:56:31 GMT 1
Thanks for the replies. I think I may ask the airline if they will let us take a car seat from here, i expect we may be able to pay for it if they won't include it in our luggage allowance, we usually travel very light. Reply to Andy, contact www.hiddencroatia.com they have various Gatwick Split options. The advertised fares are about 200 pounds, however if you phone them they have special offers, we are only paying 99 pounds including tax to travel in September (return). They still had availability when I spoke to them yesterday about additional seats. These flights are advertised until late October. We were also offered flights to Zadar by Holiday Options with Thos Cook I think but they were 250 + tax.
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Sue
Full Member
Posts: 47
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Post by Sue on Jul 21, 2005 18:48:36 GMT 1
P. S. Should have mentioned to flight stops enroute at Zadar.
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andyb
New Member
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Post by andyb on Jul 21, 2005 23:38:15 GMT 1
Sue and Richard Jones,
Thanks for the quick replies. I'll follow up your recommendations.
Regards, Andy.
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Post by Carol on Aug 20, 2005 18:31:59 GMT 1
I have two small children and have taken their baby seats on a lot of flights. (Scheduled) Airlines always let you take them in the hold, they do not count them as part of your luggage allowance and its never a problem. I think its something to do with baby seats being a piece of vital safety equipment. The big advantage is that you can get your child to the airport in a taxi or a friend's car and then you don't have the hire car seat lottery at the Croatia end.
However when you get to croatia, if you usually drive in the Uk, you will be shocked to see children of all ages (including infants) not strapped in. The cars don't look that safe - there are a lot of yugos here - and sometimes, the child is on someone's lap. Sometimes not even that.
Its really dangerous, particularly when the local kamikaze driving standards are taken into account. However, strange but true, when I lived in the UK, I would not let my children be driven to the end of the street without being fully strapped in, but here its so normal, I've even started doing it myself for short journeys.
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Post by alsdoubles on Aug 20, 2005 22:46:23 GMT 1
I was hoping that somebody would be able to tell me what the laws are with regard to children in cars. On 3 previous trips with our grandson we brought a small seat with us by air (we carried it on as hand luggage). On another occasion we arranged one with the car hire company. This September we are flying to Zadar and hadn't intended to hire a car as we have one available. We will probably just buy 1 & leave it there for future trips but we need to take a taxi to our house, will they take a 1 year old without a car seat? Do you think it is possible that we could arrange a taxi with that facility? Sue Just use your own brains. Forget the law in Croatia. Protect your kids the same way as wherever you come from. In Croatia it is not uncommon to see kids under age riding Piaggios. Or thick head parents, with one on the tank and two on the back, no helmets. But the law has tried to clamp down on this, 700 kuna fines. So let them fall off but you stay safe. Don't worry about the locals. Leave that to them.
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Post by Natali on Aug 22, 2005 19:08:18 GMT 1
Just got back home from a wonderful time in Zadar. I travel with two kids and there car seats. Almost everyone that saw me buckling them in and taking them out said I was nuts. I kept hearing “this is not America don’t worry about it”. As Alsdoubles said...Protect your kids the same way as wherever you come from.
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