Add seatbelts to Fleurette Migrateur 72LBM

[Gaby53]

We have two seatbelts on the front facing double seat but two side facing benches as well. We want to be able to carry four family members ,on occasion, and wonder whether it is possible or legal here in France to add another couple of belts?

[Derek Uzzell]

The layout of your 2011 Fleurette motorhome is shown in the drawing attached below.

 

It’s generally advised that passengers in motorhomes should never travel on ‘banquette’ (side bench) seats even if these have been fitted with seat belts. (In fact, for some years, it has been illegal for new motorhomes with banquette seats to have those seats classified and labelled as ‘travel seats’.)

 

As one might expect, there is a good deal of ‘stuff' on French camping-car websites about seat belts, including belts on banquette seats.

 

https://tinyurl.com/y5cdlw8d

 

This 2017 forum thread discussed adding a belt to a banquette

 

https://www.campingcar-bricoloisirs.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=41792

 

and this French blog includes a relevant section headed "Comment ajouter une ceinture de sécurité 3 points camping-car ?”

 

https://blog.yescapa.fr/blog/2020/03/25/doit-on-etre-attache-en-camping-car/

 

The technical stumbling-block with adding belts to a banquette seat is that an adjustable 3-point-belt arrangement is not designed to function properly unless the person wearing it is facing in the direction the vehicle is travelling, and a fixed lap-belt on a banquette (while possibly better than no belt) may badly injure the person wearing it in the event of a serious road accident.

 

I can’t advise on the illegality issue in France, but there are clearly potential contrôle technique problems (ask you friendly contrôle technique guys what the French law is) and you’d be wise to discuss this idea with your insurance provider before going any further. I also suspect that no right-thinking ‘professional’ company would be prepared to take on the installation task, as the risk of being blamed if an accident subsequently occurred and the installation failed or caused injury wouldn’t be worth taking.

 

Putting aside the practicability (I’m sure fitting belts to your Fleurette’s banquette(s) would be possible) and the French law, just three words - Don’t do it!

[Gaby53]

Many thanks for your constructive and practical advice. I wouldn’t dream of risking injury to my passengers so will leave well alone!