Rear facing seats

jcks191
jcks191 Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited December 2016 in Motorhomes #1

advice please, cant find what the law is on rear facing seats having to use seat belts. if a passenger turns the captains chair round during travel,( to put feet up due to athritis) is this legal. thank you in advance

Comments

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2016 #2

    If a seat belt is fitted it must be used by the person in that seat.

    There are exceptions....one being, which may suit your case is...... a doctors note!

    HTH.

  • jcks191
    jcks191 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited December 2016 #3

    thank you EJB. obviously by turning seat around, seat belt would become redundant, so wasn't sure where we stood (or sat) legally. 

  • royandsharont
    royandsharont Forum Participant Posts: 735
    100 Comments
    edited December 2016 #4

    I would think it would be illegal to do that under the construction and use regulations that the vehicle is manufactured under. The cab seat when turned does not lock in place in my Ducato so it would not be a very safe thing to do in my opinion in any case. Seat
    belt legislation only relates to forward facing seats. Regards, Roy

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited December 2016 #5

    again, agree with Roy....dont do it...

    our captains chairs have the belts as an integral part of the construction, so if facing rearwards, you could still fix the belt in place.....however, they dont lock in the reversed position as they do when facing forward.

    by all means, slide the seat right back and use a small box (or similar) to raise aching legs, but face forwards.....

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
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    edited December 2016 #6

    As indicated by others the seatbelt is installed for that seat so it must be used.

     

  • Aspenshaw
    Aspenshaw Forum Participant Posts: 611
    500 Comments
    edited December 2016 #7

    My manual makes it clear that both the driver and passenger seats must face forward. So, whilst it may be legal to reverse the passenger seat, the question is more likely to be is it safe for the passenger. 

  • Shuckford
    Shuckford Forum Participant Posts: 63
    edited December 2016 #8

    In a previous life I owned a Kia Sedona which had seats in the second row that turned and
    locked facing rearwards. When in this position the legal side provided a lap belt which was deemed sufficient to comply with the seatbelt law.

    My second point is that if the passenger turned the nearside seat to face rearwards! Would this not severely restrict the drivers ability to see to the nearside of the vehicle and may even block the viewing of the nearside mirror. To that end I think it
    should be a 'No' from me...

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2016 #9

    You could always do as some passengers in vans do and rest you feet/legs on the dashboardSurprised

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited December 2016 #10

    Just don't do it in a Toyota Yaris. You end up having all your clobber thrown on to the front lawn.

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #11

    You could always do as some passengers in vans do and rest you feet/legs on the dashboardSurprised

    That's what I do sometimes and I've seen plenty of other MH passengers doing that as well.

    Agree with others and would strongly advise against travelling "backwards".  Must admit, thinking about it, I don't think I'd find it comfortable travelling that way.  What about using one of those small fold-up plastic stools in front of the passenger seat,
    to put feet on? 

     

  • peegeenine
    peegeenine Forum Participant Posts: 548
    edited December 2016 #12

    The other thing to consider here is the air bag, if fitted. In an accident they only give protection when the seat and its occupant are in the normal position. Any other position could result in serious injury. Can you imagine what it would do to someone
    who has their legs on the dashboard.

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2016 #13

    If you have other seats in the habitation area with seat belts why not use one of those where you can stretch out and put your feet up a bit but remember in an accident you would be severely thrown around so don't slump too much.

     

  • BlueVanMan
    BlueVanMan Forum Participant Posts: 382
    100 Comments
    edited December 2016 #14

    There are laws and there is common sense. Your proposal is contrary to both. Manufacturers of all vehicles design in a range of passive and active safety measures for all vehicles including so pyrotechnic ones such as airbags and seatbelt pretensioners.

    It just isn't sensible to subvert these protections but turning the seat round in travel

  • rayjsj
    rayjsj Forum Participant Posts: 930
    500 Comments
    edited December 2016 #15

    In a previous life I owned a Kia Sedona which had seats in the second row that turned and
    locked facing rearwards. When in this position the legal side provided a lap belt which was deemed sufficient to comply with the seatbelt law.

    My second point is that if the passenger turned the nearside seat to face rearwards! Would this not severely restrict the drivers ability to see to the nearside of the vehicle and may even block the viewing of the nearside mirror. To that end I think it
    should be a 'No' from me...

    Write your comments here...if driving on the Continent, it would also seriously FREAK OUT other drivers coming towards you !

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