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seat belts


run rig

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Hi Paul and welcome to the forum.

 

The short answer is probably no, but without knowing what the van is, whether it has forward or sideways facing seats and whether mounting points already exist for seat belts it is impossible to tell.

 

Generally home made seat belts are not a good idea and may even be illegal as they could cause more injuries than they prevent if the worst happens.

 

If you knew that you would need more than two seat belts did you discuss this with the vendor / dealer and if so what was the outcome?

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this may help:

 

Q: I have sideways facing seats in my vehicle, can I still carry children in them from September?

 

A: Sideways facing seats are not a safe way to travel. An adult seat belt is not designed to restrain an occupant who is sitting sidewards, and the same applies to child seats.

 

Seats tested to UN ECE R44 are not designed, or intended for, vehicle's sidewards facing seats, and do not count as the correct restraint for the child. A child restraint cannot be used on a sidewards facing seat.

 

this is from:

 

http://www.childca**eats.org.uk/law/fromseptember06faq.htm#sideways

 

of course the sensor has interfered with the web address. You need to put 'rs' where the asterixes are. it thinks I'm swearing 8-)

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http://www.caravanguard.co.uk/news/motorhome_seat_belt_regulations.php should explain what you need to know.

 

Basically it is not safe and not allowed in vehicles from a certain build date.

 

Copied fron linked site......

After January 2006, the seat belt laws changed for newly manufactured motorhomes. The regulations are now broken down into three categories:

 

1. Motorhomes manufactured between 1st April 1982 and 30th September 1988 and weighing up to 2,540kg (unladen weight)...

 

... must have three point safety belts for the driver and specified passenger. Any optional belts can be three point or two point belts.

 

2. Motorhomes manufactured after 1st October 1988...

 

... must have seat belts fitted for the driver and any forward facing front passengers. Three point belts are required for the drivers and specified passenger seats. Other front belts may be two point belts if the passengers head cannot strike the windscreen. Any optional rear belts can be two or three point belts.

 

3. Motorhomes manufactured after Janurary 2006...

 

... must have at least two point safety belts for all designated seats. Mountings and belts have to conform to European and UK legal requirements (travel seats will need to be badged as such). Rear passengers in motorhomes will be obliged to use the designated seats and their safety belts. Sideways facing seats cannot be designated as travel seats (statistics show that belted side facing seats can be very dangerous in the event of collision).

 

 

 

 

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Side facing seat belts are about as much use as the proverbial chocolate fireguard as far as the user is concerned. The belts cause sever pelvic injuries and terrible head and spine injuries occur when the upper part of the body flail around and collide with hard bits of the vehicle.

 

They do help prevent injures to other occupants as the side sitter does not fly so far.

 

I still get flahbacks 25 years on after nine years on motor patrol.

 

 

 

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Nobody should be tempted to travel on side facing seats! we went into a Stal; in Germany and O.H. decided that we were on the wrong one it was just 100yds up the road (he thought) so I sat in the back while he drove slowly about 50yds when a large dog jumped out in front of the van and he did an emergency stop! just slightly cliping the dog ! but I was sent hurtling into the cabinet at the side my head wacked it so hard I thought I had done damage it knocked me dizzy for a while, but if we had been travelling at normal spead I dont think I would be here to tell the tale.
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run rig - 2008-12-01 2:59 PM

 

i have been on web page about seat belt law not very helpfull.so travling in the back of moterhome faceing sidways with lap belt on is it leagel or not?

I would say it's not illegal, but a bit pointless, As it would be virtually useless. If you fit one it must be anchored correctly to a sturdy chassis member. because you could be liable if someone using it got injured if it failed through incompetent fitting.
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run rig

 

It is difficult to say legally whether you can do this without knowing what van you have.

 

Have you asked your insurance company what their view would be?

 

Personally I woulnd't fit seat belts of any kind to side facing seats, they are pointless, they can do a lot of harm in an accident as they can virtually 'cut' someone in half from the force of them being thrown towards the front of the vehicle and cause severe internal injuries.

 

Who do you expect to carry in such a seat belt arrangement? Would you really be prepared to live with the consequences if there was an accident and they were seriously injured because of it?

 

 

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