mk2 camper

[elx317t]

hi all sorry to bother you again just need a bit of advise i have a mk2 camper and there is enough room to carry 7 people in the back but there is no seat belts i have three kids 0ne 9 one 7 and the other 5 will i need to fit seat belts

[FredTransit]

currently no, you don't have to. The bad news is the seats in the back of campers aren't really meant for carrying people in the back, they are for sitting on when you are stationary. Technically though side facing seats don't currently need seat belts to pass the MOT, so it's a bit of a grey area. I did read that at some point in the future campers will need rear seat belts, but don't know when.

[elx317t]

so i could get f++++d if i get cought with anyone in the back

[Wolfie]

the youngest must be belted, so they would have to sit in the front. As to campers and seat belt it is for new vehicles only. side facing seats are regarded as bad news with a belt, puts the strain on the wrong areas of the body in a crash. 7 people Plus gear and your will be at weight limit nearly if not already over it. but i dont get five in mine and as long as they sit still and behave you should not have too much of a problem

[FredTransit]

I didn't realise there was any rules at all yet regarding campers.

[PJR]

i've just done an article on this...

Side facing seats do not need seatbelts, in fact it is considered slightly more dangerous for seatbelts to be fitted due to the frontal impact and direction of travel of the body. However - you can fit lapbelts if needed - they are a bit of work and need professional fitting, there's a company called Towtal who can do this. Children MUST be secured.

However, you can easily fit seatbelts to forward facing seats. Modern motorhomes feature 'travel seats' in the rear which are effectivally the sofa's with 3-point belts and / or lapbelts fitted.

One final bit of advice. While you don't need seatbelts to carry adults in side facing seats, it could possibly invalidate your insurance in case of an accident, if you are carrying passengers who are not belted up in the rear.

Hope this helps!

[elx317t]

cheers all now im a bit stuffed im supposed to be taking them out tomorow the kids love the van and they cant wait i always thought it the belts was not factory fitted they didnt need them

[comet]

[elx317t]

sorry mate what does that mean

[Luke]

so i could get f++++d if i get cought with anyone in the back

nah you'll prolly just get a lecture and told not to do it again

[FredTransit]

sorry mate what does that mean

That pic (and it's small and difficult to read) looks like an email from VOSA to Comet. I reads

"If your vehicle weighs no mere than 2540kg unladen then a belt that restrains the upper part of the body is required for the driver and specified front passenger seat. If your vehicle is over the weight threshold unladen, there is no seatbelt requirement."

Bear in mind, Comet has a rax exempt (pre 1973) landliner, so it may not apply to your camper.

I am with Luke on this, I bet the police will either not know or do nothing.

[wannamk2]

see if http://www.childcarseats.org.uk helps with any answers

here's a quote taken from there:

'The law will be changing in May 2009 to prevent the carrage of more passengers than there are seat belts, and the exact details of this law will be announced by the Department for Transport closer to the time'

and if I understand this right, it means ALL campers any age.