Rear seats in camper legal or not?

[wardy-uk]

I don't think you can but are you allowed to have people in the back of your camper when driveing?

[Luke]

yes you can

[sc_BK]

You can?! Do they need to have seatbelts?

[wardy-uk]

Thats what I thought but there you go!

[FredTransit]

At the moment I think you can have passengers in the back without seat belts, it depends on the age of the camper. This will change soon, though I don't know exactly when.

[transitgeoff]

the one ive always wondered about, can you be pissed in the back of your own camper

[sc_BK]

I dunno but give me some drink and I'll make a dam good go of it

[Smooth Hound]

Thats a good question, If you have someone with you who is either unable to drive or not drinking, make sure they have the keys, and make it clear that you have no intention of moving before the morning, in any case make sure the keys are not in the ignition, not on you or in any clothing that belongs to you,. then even if you are done youve got a good chance of arguing your case,it would probably be best to make sure your vehicle is off the highway though, its their discresion i think

[FredTransit]

Potentially any of us (who drink alcohol) and have keys to a van can be done for drunk in charge of a vehicle. That's a lot of vanners at any van run. However I have never heard of any such easy nick happening, though the vans are parked off the public highway, I think it's possible to get done in the car park of a pub, if you are seen by the police to be so drunk they can't let you even get in the van and drive.

[steamdrivenandy]

I'll quote from the letters pages of the current issue of the Caravan Club Magazine where the Deputy Editor answered exactly the same query.

'There is currently no legal requirement for the passenger seats in the rear of motor caravans to be fitted with seat belts, though most manufacturers do fit them under a voluntary code of practice. However this will change for new vehicles manufactured/sold after September 2007 It will also become inadmissible for new vehicles to describea side-facing seatas a designated travel seat and fit it with any form of safety belt. Where belts are fitted they must be worn for every journey.'

That's the current definitive position.

[bortaf]

Every time i've MOT'd me home built camper the MOT man says the rear is off limits to him leagaly as campers are a grey area, i fitted lap belts anyway

[jimmyjoiner]

As Fred points out you CAN be done in a pub car park. This happened to a guy in the car park of my local, even though he was only retrieving a coat to walk home in, they waited until he had entered the car then nabbed him!!! On the other hand I decided to sleep in the car rather than walk home (drank me taxi fare) but left the car keys with the landlord of the pub until morning. As far as I am aware you can only be prosecuted for being drunk in charge of a vehicle if you are in possession of the ignition key and inside the vehicle at the same time.

[mrbass]

hi, ive got a camper and i took the bedseats out and put 4 forward facing seats in and with belts mine is ok and legal