Seatbelt requirement in 16 seaters?

Ratboy

Hows the law stand regarding wearing a seatbelt in a mini bus? Some have them fitted, some don't

A car described as 2+2, but has an extra 3rd (5th) seatbelt? where does the law stand?

A Bus hasn't any seatbelts, and has signs stating standing room, so where is the law regarding seatbelts, on lesser vehicles, when larger vehicles don't have seatbelts, AND STANDING???

So it is OK for people to stand on a bus, but have to be strapped in on a coach (essencially the same vehicle); how does that work?

forgotmyname

All seatbelts where fitted must be worn.

It depends on the age of the vehicle but since 2001.. Check the exact date yourself.

All seats must be fitted with a seatbelt.

Lots depends on when the vehicle was built and what group its classed. Was it a minibus to start with or a conversion?

Bus is totally different. It would be impractical to fit a seatbelt for someone that maybe going a few hundred yards to the next stop.

The belts would wear out very quickly also.

It doesnt have to work its just rules and law. No need for common sense at all.

Going back a few years. You take a long vehicle weighing say 12 tons when loaded.
56mph max and not allowed in the 3rd lane, 40mph on A roads etc.

All sensible stuff you think. But add 50 seats and some windows to that vehicle and stick 50 kids onboard and suddenly you can do 70mph, Use the outside lane and tailgate cars on the A roads all day long.

I thought the law changed and they are not allowed in the 3rd lane and able to do 70mph, But it seems some still do.

paddedjohn

Coaches should be limited to 56 on the motorway, after all they are carrying the most valuable cargo of all.

Tilt

paddedjohn wrote: »

Coaches should be limited to 56 on the motorway, after all they are carrying the most valuable cargo of all.

Why? Motorways a far safer than most other roads and coaches are driven by very qualified and regulated drivers.

Going back to the OPs question, All minibuses and coaches registered on or after 1 October 2001 (whether they carry child or adult passengers) must have forward-facing or rearward-facing seat belts.

Passengers sitting in the front seats, and any exposed seat, MUST use the seat belts that are provided.

Passengers sitting in the rear of minibuses that have an unladen weight of 2,540 kg or less must wear the seat belts that are provided.

Ratboy

Thanks for your sensible answers, it was just a query my partner threw at me, and I thought hmm..as she uses a minibus.

Is there an answer to why a bus doesn't have seatbelts? Or is it because of the stated stupid laws as stated?

ie A rule that I was made aware of is that a van designed as a van cannot drive on a dual carriageway at 70.

But a van that has been designed as a car floorplan can. However is that going to be policed? When a VW is a Skoda and a Alfa is a Vauxhall at design?

w211

Ratboy wrote: »

ie A rule that I was made aware of is that a van designed as a van cannot drive on a dual carriageway at 70.

But a van that has been designed as a car floorplan can. However is that going to be policed? When a VW is a Skoda and a Alfa is a Vauxhall at design?

A van with a gross weight of less than 2 tons are able to drive on dual carriageways at 70mph (ie same as car speed limits), this covers most "car-derived" vans, those as you just said, vans based on a car floorplan, i.e. Vauxhall Astravan, Ford Fiesta van, etc., as these vans are less than 2tons GVW.

Most vans, which are designed as vans from the outset, i.e. Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, are more likely to be over 2 tons GVW, and are therefore subject to the lower speed limits.

vaio

The definition of CDV is "A goods vehicle which is constructed or adapted as a derivative of a passenger vehicle and which has a maximum laden weight not exceeding 2 tonnes."

So, on the face of it, a baby van like the bedford rascal which doesn't have an equivalent car is limited to the lower speeds

spiro

Ratboy wrote: »

However is that going to be policed? When a VW is a Skoda and a Alfa is a Vauxhall at design?

Every now and again the police have a blitz on this and hand out loads of tickets to van drivers who don't know about the lower limit.

w211

vaio wrote: »

The definition of CDV is "A goods vehicle which is constructed or adapted as a derivative of a passenger vehicle and which has a maximum laden weight not exceeding 2 tonnes."

So, on the face of it, a baby van like the bedford rascal which doesn't have an equivalent car is limited to the lower speeds

I didn't know that. So what about the Vauxhall Combo (previous model) van, as that doesn't have a car equivalent even though the front end is a Vauxhall Corsa? I'm sure Vauxhall made the one I used to have with a 1,995kg gross weight limit with this speed limit law in mind?

iolanthe07

Most vans, which are designed as vans from the outset, i.e. Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, are more likely to be over 2 tons GVW, and are therefore subject to the lower speed limits.

Are you sure? These vans frequently storm past me doing upwards of 90 mph on the M5.