Seatbelts in older motorhomes
new to the motorhome world after purchasing a 2006 Swift Suntor (aka 590rl) Fiat Ducato. The use of seatbelts other than driver and passenger seats never crossed my mind but online research has left me confused. As far as I can establish it wasn't compulsory to have seatbelts in the rear area until after 2006 so if you have a vehicle prior to that (which is me) there's no legal enforcement of seatbelt wearing for passengers in the living area, then I have also read if you are stopped by police and you have passengers in the rear that aren't adequately restrained you can be prosecuted? I have also seen comments that passengers should not be sitting on side seats they should be facing forwards while travelling but no steer as to whether they also need to be restrained?. Wondering if anyone can clarify re possible police prosecution/warnings. It seems ridiculous that I have bought a 4 berth motorhome but it seems legally only 2 people can use it unless already parked up with engine switched off
Next obvious follow up question - anyone had experience good or bad of fitting legally compliant seatbelts in a motorhome?
Comments
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The legislation is a minefield.
The overriding factor, irrespective of law, is to ask yourself if you want to carry your nearest and dearest unrestrained in the rear seats.
I think it's unlikely you will be able to fit seatbelts retrospectively as they need to be fixed to suitable uprights and chassis members and a coachbuilt MH isn’t likely to fit the bill. A specialist will advise you.
Many 4 berth MHs only have 2 belted seats and don’t have the payload capability to carry more than 2 people. Caveat emptor, I’m afraid.☹️
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There are many motorhomes that can technically sleep more than two people which only have the two cab seat belts. I think the idea is that the extra berths are provided for visitors not travellers.
Regardless of what the law says surely it makes no sense to travel in a vehicle like a motorhome with more people than there are seat belts for. You could look to retrofitting seat belts, apparently there are specialist companies that do so although I am not aware of any but perhaps an internet search might find such a company.
David
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I would say that it would be irresponsible to carry passengers without seat belts and/or on side benches. In a crash at 30mph, an unrestrained back seat adult passenger will hit the front seat, and anyone in it, with a force of 2,500 kg+, killing the unbelted passenger and probably whoever was in the front seat, Even with a seatbelt, passengers in side facing seats will have their innards flung to one side and that is not a good idea. At lest their innards will need significant treatment, at worst they will die.
Whether additional seats can be fitted will probably depend on the chassis and internal layout. In the old days (in the 90s Swift vans could have third party seats fitted) it was also common for horse boxes having additional seat belts fitted. David's suggestion is worth a shot. To start you off, try
The solution for most people nowadays is to follow the van with a car.
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However, this vehicle was not built without seat belts. It was built with seat belts for the 2 cab passengers. I therefore doubt that the rule you quote is applicable, Lutz.
I think it is likely the V5 shows a total of 2 passenger seats which implies only the driver + 1 can be carried legally. Insurance is another issue and the insurers may well reject a claim if too many people are carried.
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You may be right if the motorhome was declared as a two seater, but if it was always intended to be a four seater then there would be no restriction on carrying occupants on the rear seats (except, of course, children under 3 years). The same applies to cars that were originally built between 1983 and 1991 as required with seat belts on the front seats only, but none for the rear seats. I don't know if the same breakpoints applied to motorhomes, though.
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There was a breakpoint but I cannot remember when. I think it must have been in the early 2000s (2003/2004?) because I have carried more passengers than belts in a 2001 motorhome quite legally. Quite appart from the danger to unbelted passengers, have you ever thought what would happen to the fridge or the oven in an accident? Neither are anchored down that firmly.
peedee
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Instead of indulging in endless guesses and assumptions why not read HMG's guidance?
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I assume the OP has but found it rather woolly 🤷🏻♂️
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In that case, you’ll be able to resolve the OP's confusion. 👍🏻
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Thanks for the replies everyone - I thought I just wasn't getting something, but from the responses there seems to be the usual case of government legislation being vague in favour of letting the public be absolutely clear in the face of possible prosecution
Of course I can see the point of why you would want to put a passenger at risk by not having them restrained and maybe that's where the story ends for a lot of motor homers, I suspect that statement is easier made if you own a van newer than 2006 when the legislation changed.
I had seen the 'carriage of passengers in campervans' gov.uk page prior to coming here and it was what brought me to ask my original question.
Quoting from the page:
Although it is not specifically illegal to travel in the accommodation area of a campervan, you should bear in mind that this area would not have been specifically designed for use when travelling and Regulation 100 of the Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986 No. 1078) may apply. This requires:
- the number of passengers carried, and the manner in which any passengers are carried in a vehicle to be at all times such that no danger is caused, or is likely to be caused
Further to this, Section 40a of The Road Traffic Act 1988 (as amended by Section 8 of the Road Traffic Act 1991) Part II, Using a Vehicle in a Dangerous Condition, states that:
A person is guilty of an offence if he uses a motor vehicle or trailer on a road when:
- the number of passengers carried by it, or the manner in which they are carried
is such that the use of the motor vehicle or trailer involves a danger of injury to any person.
Our advice is that passengers are safest in a forward or rearward facing seat equipped with a three-point seat belt
Whilst there is no specific legal limit to the number of passengers carried, the manufacturer will probably specify the maximum number that the vehicle is designed for
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Oh Dear, Brian hates walking thro Minefields !!
I have to admit my 12 Reg Ducato is an AutoCruise Jazz two berth , four seater campervan with Four Forward facing Seat belts { Absolutely wonderful for providing a secure anchorage on site for watching Saturdays Footy
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