Is it legal...

ryan1512

to fill an estate car boot section right to the top, thereby blocking the view through a rear-view mirror?

I want to leave the rear seats as free as possible for passengers when going on holiday and am struggling for room.

mikey72

I do it every time we go away, and usually every day when I'm working.
So long as you have two door mirrors you should be legal.

rodenal

Should be ok - vans don't have a rear view mirror. As long as you have side mirrors there should be no problem.

ryan1512

mikey72 wrote: »

I do it every time we go away, and usually every day when I'm working.
So long as you have two door mirrors you should be legal.

rodenal wrote: »

Should be ok - vans don't have a rear view mirror. As long as you have side mirrors there should be no problem.

That's whatI have always thought, just a bit worried that if a rear-view mirror is in the car, it should be used by law. Like when it became law to wear rear passenger seat belts but a lot of older cars didn't have them, there was no penalty (if that makes sense!).

bigjl

The only issue is that you must swcure the load with a dog guard or similar, as it could be considered using a car in an unsafe condition as the load could hit passe.gers when braking hard.

I am sure the OP has thought about that but felt the need to put it out there just in case.

All the Zafira Fast Response Cars used by the LAS have fully blocked rear windows
due to the equipment we carry, they put reverse cameras on them from 55 plate onwards but the only ossue we have ever had is when we had the Astras and there was an issue when equipment from the rear seat hit the driver, the back seat was replaced by shelving to allow equipment to be carried, they initially banned euipment from the back seat, then actioned the 4 yr old request for a bungee net, this secured the equipment nicely.

As mentioned above, but just to reiterate you can pretty much block off all windows behind the B pillar and still be legal.

Actually i have seen mounting points in several vauxhalls that allow the dog guard to be repositioned behind the driver for just such an occasion. I am certain the Zafira has them, i know my Omega estate had them.

ryan1512

bigjl wrote: »

The only issue is that you must swcure the load with a dog guard or similar, as it could be considered using a car in an unsafe condition as the load could hit passe.gers when braking hard.

I am sure the OP has thought about that but felt the need to put it out there just in case.

All the Zafira Fast Response Cars used by the LAS have fully blocked rear windows
due to the equipment we carry, they put reverse cameras on them from 55 plate onwards but the only ossue we have ever had is when we had the Astras and there was an issue when equipment from the rear seat hit the driver, the back seat was replaced by shelving to allow equipment to be carried, they initially banned euipment from the back seat, then actioned the 4 yr old request for a bungee net, this secured the equipment nicely.

As mentioned above, but just to reiterate you can pretty much block off all windows behind the B pillar and still be legal.

Actually i have seen mounting points in several vauxhalls that allow the dog guard to be repositioned behind the driver for just such an occasion. I am certain the Zafira has them, i know my Omega estate had them.

Cheers bigjl, that's comprehensive enough for me! Thanks

Strider590

When loading the boot, ask yourself if that object would hurt if thrown at the back of your head at 50 odd mph.


Few years ago the ex was being sh1tty with me for refusing to put her sons bike in the boot of the car (she thought I was being anal about keeping the car clean).
I pointed out that the handlebars of a childs bicycle will make a mess of your face when they plough through the back of your skull..... Not a pretty image, but sure as hell puts things into perspective

As long as your load is secure, there's no problem.

Hammyman

ryan1512 wrote: »

to fill an estate car boot section right to the top, thereby blocking the view through a rear-view mirror?
.

Only as long as when you have a boot full of luggage and seat full of rear passengers that you do not overload the rear axle. Four figure fines if VOSA or Police see it on its knees, put it over a weighbridge and find its overloaded.

Woody._2

Hammyman wrote: »

Only as long as when you have a boot full of luggage and seat full of rear passengers that you do not overload the rear axle. Four figure fines if VOSA or Police see it on its knees, put it over a weighbridge and find its overloaded.

You can't do a car for excess weight (only a car derived van or larger), the offence is using a vehicle in a dangerous condition £60 and three points minimum.

mchale

Strider590 wrote: »

Few years ago the ex was being sh1tty with me for refusing to put her sons bike in the boot of the car (she thought I was being anal about keeping the car clean).
I pointed out that the handlebars of a childs bicycle will make a mess of your face when they plough through the back of your skull..... Not a pretty image, but sure as hell puts things into perspective

Especially the way you drive :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

forgotmyname

legal but if they have a spot check you are more likely to get pulled and put on the weighbridge.

The chassis plate will have the maximum axle loading weights and also the cars gross loaded weight.

Get a small trailer.