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This applies to new vans of course and I'm not sure whether it's actually illegal to travel in side facing seats, especially without seat belts in older vans. But as Autotrail say it is dangerous in the event of an accident to travel in side facing seats whether with or without seatbelts.
To answer your question - My understanding is that it is not illegal to use rear seats that don't have seat belts fitted (sideways facing or otherwise) if the seats have never had seat belts fitted (ie you can't remove them to avoid using them).
It also felt that seat belts on sideways facing seats do more harm than good in the event of accident due the conflicting stresses imposed on the body.
However, that leaves the moral question of safety if you have unrestrained passengers on the settees which (presumably) have unrestrained cushions . . .
and you have an accident.
Mike (Madontour) is absolutely correct it is perfectly legal to have passengers in the unbelted seats on older vehicles.
The decision whether you are happy with this arrangement is yours. Personally I am because when granddaughter occupies the front passenger seat in her chair then one of us has to travel in the back.
Location: In the badlands on the border of Staffordshire and Cheshire just out of earshot of the M6 and WCML
Status: Offline
karlb wrote:
oldun wrote:
Check with your insurance. Mine asks for the number of seats with seat belts and they only insure passengers carried in seats with seat belts.
this always raises the question are you insured if you dont wear the supplied belt?
It's not just a matter of insurance, as I understand it it is now, or shortly will be, illegal to travel in a vehicle with safety belts and not use them. There are certain very specific exceptions for tiny sprogs etc.
Where seat belts are fitted, it is illegal not to use them, except if specific circumstances, i.e. very local delivery vehicles - milk floats on delivery, etc., or if you have a severe medical reason whereby the seat belt would do physical damage, i.e. just had chest or heart surgery and not fully healed, etc.
To use seats without seat belts, unless the vehicle is historic and pre-seat belt law, is suicidal. The driver has a duty of care for his passengers, and in the event of an accident I am sure the police will find a prosecutable offence against the driver - dangerous driving - driving without due care and attention - or some other offence!
Don't even consider it
______________________________________________________________ Michael. . . . . . When in doubt, try it anyway, and learn from your mistakes!
.......... I did - and I´m now yet another EX Marquis customer!
He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless - DEAD!
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