Newbie question on travelling in the accommodation area

NigelNovice

NigelNovice

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Keep seeing warning about passengers MUST have seat belts, having a 4 berth with only to fronts belted kind of defeats the object of 4 berth.
So researching the topic I have found this Government website advice;
quote "Although it is not specifically illegal to travel in the accommodation area of a campervan"
quote "Although side facing seats, with or without seat belts, are not illegal, we would not advise that they are used."
www.gov.uk

Carriage of passengers in campervans

www.gov.uk www.gov.uk
We want to take grandson out now and then, it does state under 12's must be belted so he would be in front.
Also seen you can go to toilet when on the move (not good idea for driver :) )
 
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It’s always been my understanding that everyone needs to be belted up when travelling. I’ve often been asked if a passenger can go for a sleep on the fixed bed when en route and although tempting at times, I’ve always said no. Not sure what the legal position would be. I’m sure one of our legal or police members could advise.
 
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I don't know in England but in France it is also legal to drive with no seat belts in the accomodation area.
I have just like you 2 belted seats in front, nothing else, and still 4 people allowed to travel in my moho.
Insurance says that you must advise your "not belted" passengers of the risk they are taking.
I would even say , make them write it down.
Police can't fine you.
I would not do it with children except one in front which I've already done.
Your choice, and your passengers' one.
 
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Also from the document you linked to

+++++
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 and if that is exceeded, Regulation 100 of the Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 or Section 40a of The Road Traffic Act 1991 may again apply. It is therefore important that you also confirm the number of passengers and the manner in which they will be carried with your insurance company.
+++++

Does you V5 state anything?
What is the input from your insurers?

Personally, we wouldn't have passengers (or our dog) not belted in but we're in the fortunate position of having 4 belted seats.
 
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Your moho sounds like a 2 berth, doesn't matter how many beds you have

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The van is listed as six berth.

I have four forward facing seats with belts.

Berths five and six? I've never worked out how to put them together and anyway seats five and six are side facing without belts!

But the real stopper, if I was to carry six people I would be well oveloaded!
 
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Depends on the year the van is registered not sure by I think the cut off is 2006 or 2007. After that date passengers can only travel in belted seats.
 
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Having seen a few caravans turned to matchwood over the years illegal or not I wouldn’t be allowing anyone in the back without a belt on , I’d never forgive myself if there was a crash

what a way to die , sat on the toilet at 60mph
 
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This is at 30 mph…. I wouldn’t want this to happen to the people I love..

 
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Ask yourself this—-

Is it less safe than sitting in a belted seat?

That’s the Q the Magistrate would ask.

Legislation link here

Screen shot

7A9949AB-75A5-41EB-86F3-4937C6599CDF.jpeg
 
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Whilst I agree the sentiment.

Define safe?
It’s a continuum. Life isn’t safe.

I’d not carry passengers in that manner. My passenger does however on occasion get up to source a rattle etc but we both risk assess first to lessen the risk.

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How would you feel if you had an accident and your Gransdson was killed. Could you ever forgive yourself?


Wow.
Can’t remember saying anything like that.


The wife getting up and looking for a rattle on a deserted straight country road at 10 mph that we’ve both checked is very different. You do know that it can be dangerous crossing the road.

Chill fella, relax and please have a nice day. (y) (y) (y)

I don’t think I’d carry the grandchildren like this though ..




56F49C87-DD70-41C4-AAAD-DBB2798D47BD.jpeg
 
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Lenny HB said:
Depends on the year the van is registered not sure by I think the cut off is 2006 or 2007. After that date passengers can only travel in belted seats.
Click to expand...
The cut off date was mid 2007 but that was only for Manufacturing. As stated in above posts you can still travel on side facing seats. No belts should be used, especially no 3 point belts. You can also travel in rear facing seats. It your choice but preferably children / must be given any seats with belts.
 
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One of the main criteria for us when buying our van was that ALL passengers could be accommodated with a proper seat belt.
Bought a van with a stated berth capacity of 5/6 and 4 forward facing inertia seat belts and 2 rear facing lap belts.
Just under 6m in length, coachbuilt with massive cab over bed for 3, another double bed converted from the middle dinette for 2 and a single bed converted from the rear small dinette.
And a payload at 3500kg.
Mainly use the maximum travelling capacity for days out only, not overnighting and not taking all the usual unnecessary “extras” associated when actually staying away.
Weird thing is, this van is not new!
It was built in 2000 and registered in 2001 with the belted seats fitted as standard, some 6 years before the 2007 regulation changes.
Cant understand how some manufacturers prior to 2007 were allowed to promote and make vans with a bigger berth capacity whilst not providing sufficient safety equipment.
 
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Someone asked the same question on another forum a few years ago. They emailed rospa for advice, and this was their reply.

Thank you for your email.
The seatbelt law states that where seatbelts are fitted they must be worn, so if seatbelts are not fitted legally adults will be able to sit in those seats. The law is different for children
The law requires that all children travelling in the front or rear seat of any car, van or goods vehicle must use the correct child car seat until they are either 135 cm in height or 12 years old (which ever they reach first). After this they must use an adult seat belt.
Children would not be able to use side facing seats
If the seat is side facing Children are prohibited from travelling in the back if the seats are sideways facing, even if they wear a seatbelt or travel in a child seat. Research has found that seatbelts offer very little support in the event of a collision on sideways facing seats. As a result of this the new car seat laws now prohibit children travelling in the rear of motor homes on sideways facing seats
Sideways facing seats are not a safe way to travel but there is nothing in law to say that adults cannot use these seats.
Hope this helps.


Anita Plumb
Information officer
T: +44 (0)121 248 2130
E: aplumb@rospa.com
www.rospa.com
 
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I have met folks on a club site who had a 4 berth but only 2 seat belts. Their 2 'guests' followed on behind in a car and slept in the van (y)
 
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I notice that some of these stretched limos that people hire for hen parties have all the seats side facing with no belts. Presumably legal.
 
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Oldrat said:
How would you feel if you had an accident and your Gransdson was killed. Could you ever forgive yourself?


Wow.
Can’t remember saying anything like that.


The wife getting up and looking for a rattle on a deserted straight country road at 10 mph that we’ve both checked is very different. You do know that it can be dangerous crossing the road.

Chill fella, relax and please have a nice day. (y) (y) (y)

I don’t think I’d carry the grandchildren like this though ..




View attachment 634544
Click to expand...
I don't think the reference to a grandson was aimed at you. It was in answer to the OP who wants to transport their grandson. :giggle:

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When insuring my motorhome was asked how many belted seats, and was told that is the number I am insured to carry. As insurance is a legal requirement no of seatbelts = no it can carry
When I first started motorhoming rear seatbelts were not compulsory, cringe to think of how we travelled, however a lot fewer and less powerful vehicles on the roads.
 
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A few years ago in Spain we were travelling on a motorway eating a bag of crisps and my wife said shall we have some cheese as well , she got our of her seat to access the fridge and on her return we were overtaken by a police car . We were indicated to pull over and then lectured about not her not wearing a seatbelt and the fine would be 200€ . While he was talking to us through my window our untethered dog was growling at him he then said “ perro no harness” that’s also 200€ . I was thinking that’s the most expensive cheese in the world when he said “today is your lucky as I only warn you” . We learnt a valuable lesson about both issues .
 
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