I have just purchased a swift Kontiki 6 berth and was wondering legally how many people can I carry inside. There are no seat belts inside only passenger and driver of course. Seating wise I reckon I could accomodate eight comfortably in the back.
I asked my BIL this question who is a Police Officer on Traffic. He said it's a bit of a grey area, if the rear seats are facing sideways you don't need belts. If they are facing forward it is advisable, but not compulsory. Seats with belts must be occupied however before the other seats can be used.
Seatbelt law as applied to motorhomes seems to be quite complex, we have tried to condense the essence of the current law as we understand it.
As far as seat belts fitted in the rear are concerned, motorcaravans built after 1st April 1997 must have a seat belt fitted to every forward facing seat that is intended for use while the vehicle is travelling on a road. The law requires that if seat belts are fitted, they must be worn.
So, it seems that for motorcaravans built before 1st April 1997 there is no requirement for rear seatbelts to be fitted, so it would not be illegal to travel in a rear seat that is not fitted with a belt, as long as any seats provided with a belt are already in use. For motorcaravans built after 1st April 1997 any forward facing seats not fitted with seatbelts would not be intended for use whilst the vehicle is travelling. There is no requirement for seatbelts to be fitted to side facing or rear facing seats so it would not be illegal to use these seats whilst travelling, as long as any seats fitted with belts are already occupied.
Whether is is safe to travel in the rear without a seat belt is another issue entirely, and we would advise that no-one should be carried in any unbelted seat in the rear of a motorhome.
A change in the law is due in January 2006 - from this date all travelling seats in motorhomes will have to have at least two-point seatbelts fitted, and it appears that it may become illegal to carry passengers in any non-designated travelling seat.
NOTE: The above is our understanding of the law, for definitive advice you could contact the Traffic division of your local Police, it would also be wise to check with the vehicle's insurers for their view on the matter.
"As far as seat belts fitted in the rear are concerned, motorcaravans built after 1st April 1997 must have a seat belt fitted to every forward facing seat that is intended for use while the vehicle is travelling on a road. The law requires that if seat belts are fitted, they must be worn."
That is a condensed version and not accurate at all. If it were true this next part would be pointless because everything would already be covered.
"A change in the law is due in January 2006 - from this date all travelling seats in motorhomes will have to have at least two-point seatbelts fitted, and it appears that it may become illegal to carry passengers in any non-designated travelling seat."
A quick look round most new motorhomes would prove that its not the case.
The top part actually defines a traveling seat as a cab type seat.
if you put say a Reccarro in the back it would need a seatbelt if forward facing. if it were side or rear facing no seatbelt required. Habitation seats require no belt. ie if the primary intent is a dinnette seat it doesnt HAVE to have a seat belt, however that doesnt mean it cannot be used as a traveling seat ( I am not getting into the rights and wrongs of travelling without a seatbelt)
The change in 2006 is designed to make sure that all passengers will have a seat belt. not that dinete seats must have a seat belt. It will probably come to that tho in the case of say a 6 berth were people want to transport 6 as well (at present many 6 berths have only 2-4 belted seats)
Ringing the local traffic division or construction and use (probably better they do make things easier to understand)
Carol
Would you prefer that no-one gained any knowledge here? that everyone was shackled by the same old wives tales that are repeated over and over as IF THEY ARE Fact? I had to look into the above because of changing the use from bus to motorhome on my selfbuild.
Quote: Originally posted by GeorgeTelford on 12/11/2004
Carol
Would you prefer that no-one gained any knowledge here? that everyone was shackled by the same old wives tales that are repeated over and over as IF THEY ARE Fact? I had to look into the above because of changing the use from bus to motorhome on my selfbuild.
George
Wow!
Calm down George. You've practically said the same as I've quoted anyway. Carol didn't mean any harm, and I don't think there's a need to call good natured advice into question.
The cut and paste you quote implies something quite different to what the law actually says. I have pointed this out before, did you not bother to check what I said out? If you did you would know the cut and paste is misleading and if you knew it was misleading why post it ? If you did not check it out why still quote it?
Carols post apears to be a wind up, How else is Carols post supposed to be viewed, as a psychic prediction? Apologies if it isnt a wind up.
the cut and paste I've referrred to comes from ukmotorhomes.co.uk., as I pointed out in a previous thread.....why don't you tell THEM? Surely, as a body, they'd know?
As I said already, if you read properly what I quoted, against what you said, there's practically NO difference.
PS. Don't be so bloody smart in your replies to me or anyone else. Try to keep it non-personal, and we'll get along fine.
Quote: Originally posted by GeorgeTelford on 12/11/2004
Hi Stu
The cut and paste you quote implies something quite different to what the law actually says. I have pointed this out before, did you not bother to check what I said out? If you did you would know the cut and paste is misleading and if you knew it was misleading why post it ? If you did not check it out why still quote it?
Carols post apears to be a wind up, How else is Carols post supposed to be viewed, as a psychic prediction? Apologies if it isnt a wind up.
Geo
Lets face it George, you do have a habit of begging to differ! Hence my observation of your troll avatatar on a previous thread.
You would have less apologies to make if your posts were more tactful
one thing to point out is that rear facing seats can not be used by a child under the age of fifteen whilst on move.the exception is nhs services.
i bought three minibuses from nhs all fited with rear facing seats behind front seats.i decided to leave these seats in as carrying child in safety seat and thought much safer as if in crash child would be pushed into seat on impact rather than thrown forward out of seat.only to find out this law.when stated nhs had run vehicle for years this way .was informed although minibus for taking patients home ect on logbook it was standerd van and nhs can adapt any vehicle in which way they wish but dont have to notify DLA.however if private changes must be made to bring up to minibus test standerds.
though i knew my own way out of this ie fit sink it is then classed as camper,it was still a bit of a joke.
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Topic: CARRYING PASSENGERS
