Seat Belt laws

[slow-lane-Matt]

Does anyone know what the law is on wearing seat belts in old cars

(Please no lectures about buses being inherently dangerous etc etc)

For example at a pinch, can someone sit on a backward facing seat behind the bulkhead without a belt (none fitted).

Do rear seat passengers have to wear belts if fitted...

If you have rear 2 belts and 3 rear passengers is that illegal...

I don't plan to make a habit of not being fully belted up - I just wondered what the legal position is...

Thanks

 

[Clem]

If seat belts arent/werent fitted then they dont have to be used. The exemption to this is regards to children though - all children under three MUST wear them or not travel in the vehicle, and children over three who travel in the vehicle should sit in the front only if no belts are fitted.

If the belts are fitted, then they must be used regardless of the vehicle age.

Three passengers and two belts? The two belts should be used but the third person can travel unrestrained.

 

[dodge6x6]

was wondering about this for a differant reason, have just fitted rear facing fold down buddy seats (converted landrover buddy seat bases) but no belts fitted to them will i need seat belts for the MOT, i only intend to use them when stationary not when driving, but as they are to be a permant fitment do they come under seat belt law. Or do i just remove them for the MOT lol.
bus is registered as 9 seater so no probs there, but in origional configuration it would have had 9 sets of belts as well .

cheers Peter

 

[newhippy]

Not absolutely sure but my van has just been MOT'd and the tester said he didn't need to bother about the belts on the rear facing buddy seat, just thoase on forward facing seats.
Adrian

 

[*Sam*]

Clem's post is correct, dodge6x6 Vw didn't produce a bay with rear facing seats so no seat belts were ever fitted so no you don't need them.

 

[aspro]

So you're all saying that seating compliance means F all in the UK? I can make a box out of some wood, bolt it in the back of a van and carry passengers without a seat belt? Surely not. Any additional seats need to be inspected and documented by the DVA.

 

[*Sam*]

Well when you think about it that is exactly what Westfalia devon etc did.

 

[who?1]

Also check your rego and insurance.....this may specify no. of seats and passengers....too many and your insurance may be void!

 

[Clem]

So you're all saying that seating compliance means F all in the UK? I can make a box out of some wood, bolt it in the back of a van and carry passengers without a seat belt? Surely not. Any additional seats need to be inspected and documented by the DVA.

Its interesting, Australia and Sweden were streets ahead when it came to seat belt laws, hence why the additional rear seat belt mount attachments are found on Aus and Swedish vans as the stock mount height points were unacceptable. UK laws are pretty lax by comparison and as we see, aren't retrospective.

Maybe a magazine will have a feature on this? :? :lol:

 

[JAY-1977]

Ok this is my 2 pence worth :lol: if said vehicle was sold from factory with seat belts fitted then it needs to have them fitted for uk laws/mots, if the vehicle is classed as a classic which I believe as of April 1974 or older?? It doesn't need rear seatbelts? Again unless fitted from factory, so all buddy seats or rear seats fitted in a panel van on a classic vehicle don't need seatbelts. Hope this may help? As an Mot tester I only check seatbelts on pre 74 vehicles if I can see them.

 

[aspro]

Ok this is my 2 pence worth :lol: if said vehicle was sold from factory with seat belts fitted then it needs to have them fitted for uk laws/mots, if the vehicle is classed as a classic which I believe as of April 1974 or older?? It doesn't need rear seatbelts? Again unless fitted from factory, so all buddy seats or rear seats fitted in a panel van on a classic vehicle don't need seatbelts. Hope this may help? As an Mot tester I only check seatbelts on pre 74 vehicles if I can see them.

I still don't think you can go changing the seating capacity of any vehicle without a DVA inspection. It even states it here. http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/changing-your-vehicle-details-on-your-registration-certificate" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[Supertramp]

Ok this is my 2 pence worth :lol: if said vehicle was sold from factory with seat belts fitted then it needs to have them fitted for uk laws/mots, if the vehicle is classed as a classic which I believe as of April 1974 or older?? It doesn't need rear seatbelts? Again unless fitted from factory, so all buddy seats or rear seats fitted in a panel van on a classic vehicle don't need seatbelts. Hope this may help? As an Mot tester I only check seatbelts on pre 74 vehicles if I can see them.

I still don't think you can go changing the seating capacity of any vehicle without a DVA inspection. It even states it here. http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/changing-your-vehicle-details-on-your-registration-certificate" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's Northern Ireland?

 

[JAY-1977]

I fitted a 2nd row of seats in my Mercedes vito van an have not had to have them inspected although insurance wanted to see how they were fixed! Also on mots you can change the testing for amount of seats, ie tell vosa your testing 4 seats on a vehicle or if more fitted you can put the amount fitted, but they have to be securely fitted to pass mot.

 

[aspro]

Ok this is my 2 pence worth :lol: if said vehicle was sold from factory with seat belts fitted then it needs to have them fitted for uk laws/mots, if the vehicle is classed as a classic which I believe as of April 1974 or older?? It doesn't need rear seatbelts? Again unless fitted from factory, so all buddy seats or rear seats fitted in a panel van on a classic vehicle don't need seatbelts. Hope this may help? As an Mot tester I only check seatbelts on pre 74 vehicles if I can see them.

I still don't think you can go changing the seating capacity of any vehicle without a DVA inspection. It even states it here. http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/changing-your-vehicle-details-on-your-registration-certificate" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's Northern Ireland?

Same difference. Still part of the UK. Same info here for DVLA http://www.findlaw.co.uk/law/motoring/vehicle_registration/9951.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[Clem]

Some facts here

http://www.ukmot.com/5-1.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[Tofufi]

Same difference. Still part of the UK. Same info here for DVLA http://www.findlaw.co.uk/law/motoring/vehicle_registration/9951.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

While you have to inform the DVLA, there is no physical inspection to verify the seats have been fitted correctly. All they will do is update the seating capacity on the V5c document.

My bus doesn't have a seating capacity listed on the V5c at present anyway...

 

[Tofufi]

Ok this is my 2 pence worth :lol: if said vehicle was sold from factory with seat belts fitted then it needs to have them fitted for uk laws/mots, if the vehicle is classed as a classic which I believe as of April 1974 or older?? It doesn't need rear seatbelts? Again unless fitted from factory, so all buddy seats or rear seats fitted in a panel van on a classic vehicle don't need seatbelts. Hope this may help? As an Mot tester I only check seatbelts on pre 74 vehicles if I can see them.

Pre '74 is not the correct date for seatbelts, as shown here:

http://www.motuk.co.uk/images/seatbelt2.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The basics for older cars are that '65 don't need belts, pre October '88 need front belts but not rears.

Non-mandatory belts must be checked for condition if fitted.

 

[JAY-1977]

Sorry I just re read my last bit, I check front seatbelts on all vehicles if fitted but 1974 an older I only check rear seatbelts if can see them fitted, vintage vehicles according to dvla are 65 an older which don't need belts but Classic is classed same as non tax vehicles? It's a proper can of worms as black cabs don't need drivers seatbelt for Mot but do need em for licensing?? :roll:

 

[Clem]

'Classic' status isn't really relevant. Seat belt law requirements were bought in at specific times and it's compliance with that that is required.
We are referring here to Early Bays, so front seat belts are required but rears are not. Occasional seating is part of the camper design and won't require seat belts BUT if you choose to fit them (as is sensible) they must be used and be compliant.