6 people in a 5 seat vehicle

[bobbyp]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice on the following. I'm intending on going to France in August for a few days, the dilemma I have is that in the car there will be 2 adults and 4 children between the ages of 10 & 3. The car is a Ford Focus estate (5 seats and 5 seat belts). I am unsure if this legal in the UK and/or France, can anyone advise please.

Just a point of note, it is easy to place a seat belt around 1 adult and 1 child or 2 children if need be.

Lastly, if it were illegal what are the likely penalties should I be pulled over?

Thanks in advance.

[shazrobo]

hi, it would not be legal, sorry to say.
as it is a 5 seater vehicle, then you are only allowed to carry 5 people, therefore if pulled over you could be treat in the same way those are that are caught drivin with no insurance, i certainly would not want to risk this, or my families safety for that matter

[DrFluffy]

I'd be more worried about the consequences of having an accident, not of getting caught... Especially with a car full of children!

Seat belts are designed to support one person...

[DrFluffy]

http://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/seatbelts.htm

[newlywed]

Don't forget about the booster seats/child seats law in the UK too, if the kids are young. ;)

[vikingaero]

If you put a belt around 1 adult and 1 child, the adult will crush the body and spine of the child in a serious crash. Also the adult is likely to headbutt the child with fatal consequences. Can you borrow or hire a 6/7 seat MPV?

[Sagaris]

Rules in France:

France

Child Restraints
Children are prohibited from travelling in the front seat until aged 10 years old.

Children under 10 years of age must be seated in the rear and use a seatbelt or an approved child seat. However, a very young child in an approved rear-facing safety seat can be placed in the front seat.

Children seated in the front seat must be seated in a child restraint appropriate to their weight and age.

From the RoSPA child car seats website (www.childcarseats.org (http://www.childcarseats.org))

[southernscouser]

I am unsure if this legal in the UK and/or France, can anyone advise please.

I'm sorry but is this some sort of wind up? :confused:

How the hell were you even issued a driving license if you don't know this? :rolleyes:

[Crabman]

If you were pulled over you'd be in serious trouble, either side of the channel. Also don't expect them to be too happy with a long road trip all squashed up in the back.

Click the Motoring A-Z in my signature and follow the link to the Highway Code Online - assuming you can't find your hard copy, you do have a copy? Yeah, course you do :p

[bobbyp]

Thanks for all the friendly and positive replies, it's just a shame that some prat takes asking for info as an opportunity to demonstrate a holier than though right to flame others.

The whole point of asking the question was to find out if it is legal or not, as I have now established that it is illegal I will not be doing it and will hire an appropriate vehicle.

Thanks again to all the positive contributors.

[southernscouser]

Thanks for all the friendly and positive replies, it's just a shame that some prat takes asking for info as an opportunity to demonstrate a holier than though right to flame others.

The whole point of asking the question was to find out if it is legal or not, as I have now established that it is illegal I will not be doing it and will hire an appropriate vehicle.

Thanks again to all the positive contributors.

Oooh a personal insult. How privelaged I am. :)

My question is, how can you not know it's illegal? :confused:

[poe.tuesday]

Oooh a personal insult. How privelaged I am. :)

My question is, how can you not know it's illegal? :confused:

moreover, how does he not know that it's not safe

[Crabman]

www.avis.co.uk/tesco (http://www.avis.co.uk/tesco) - don't forget you can use clubcard vouchers to get this type of car hire at a quarter of the cost! Read the Loyalty Schemes: Tricks to get more from Nectar, Airmiles, Tesco & others (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/loyalty-scheme-tricks) article if you aren't already aware of using clubcard vouchers in this way :beer:

[mervyn11]

What the hell happened to common flamin sense then !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:eek:

[shandypants5]

What happened to common decency??
The guy was just asking advice...
OK so having passed a driving test ,he should have known better.
But he asked and was given advice and appears to have taken it on board.

Nasty post wont help the fact that he didnt realise how dangerous it is to over fill cars..

I thought we were all here to help each other?
I have asked my own share of stupid questions, havent we all?

[southernscouser]

Nasty post wont help the fact that he didnt realise how dangerous it is to over fill cars..

I think the OP was the only one who posted personal insults. :)

[TheImportanceOfBeingIdle]

One adult with a child sat on their lap. Both relying on a seat belt in an accident.

Take an adult at 13 stone. Should the car crash, that 13 stone is going to ram into the back of the child, ramming the child against the seat belt. Are you off your f***ing head???

[plane_boy2000]

I cant believe that in this day and age the op is more concerned about the legalities and the fine that they are about the safety of their children. Absoultly unbelievable.

[Bennifred]

bobbyp, I sincerely hope that you do act on the advice given in this thread. It's not so long ago that several children died in a car crash as a result of overloading the car after a birthday outing - the driver (after she left hospital) was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. It really is not worth the risk to ever carry more passengers than you have seatbelts for.

[nickmack]

bobbyp, I sincerely hope that you do act on the advice given in this thread. It's not so long ago that several children died in a car crash as a result of overloading the car after a birthday outing - the driver (after she left hospital) was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. It really is not worth the risk to ever carry more passengers than you have seatbelts for.

If this is the accident, you are talking about, it provides a stark warning in this tragedy:

http://archive.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/2006/4/14/93476.html

[jmc160]

BoobyP, you could try looking for a cheap old Volvo estate.

A friend at work had one, apparently bought very cheap, was very reliable (and well built) and the boot floor could be folded out to reveal two extra rear-facing seats.

[rdwarr]

I wonder how large families used to get around in the days before MPVs? When I was a kid it was a treat for me and a friend to travel in the boot of my mum's Anglia Estate :)
Nice to see that things have changed for the better.

[LandyAndy]

I wonder how large families used to get around in the days before MPVs? When I was a kid it was a treat for me and a friend to travel in the boot of my mum's Anglia Estate :)
Nice to see that things have changed for the better.

Mrs LA, when a small child, used to sleep on the rear parcel shelf of her parents' car on overnight trips from High Wycombe to Glasgow. :eek:

[vikingaero]

Mrs LA, when a small child, used to sleep on the rear parcel shelf of her parent's car on overnight trips from High Wycombe to Glasgow. :eek:

That's exactly what I used to do! :eek::D

When I was a kid, seatbelts were for wimps and if I was sitting up front and my dad had to brake hard, the standard method of restraint was my dads arm held out to stop me sliding forward................. whilst he was trying to avoid whatever he was trying to avoid.:eek::D

Amazing how much more knowledgeable we are today and how I would never do anything other than strap my kids in safely.

[Cumbrian Male]

Two things you would fall foul of.

Construction and Use regulations, your V5 will state the number of seats.

Insurance will be void, due to not complying with it's terms for breaching above.