What's the point of 3rd row in modern MPVS?

neilmcl

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

You don't half post some drivel :mad:

If the child is of an age/size where a child seat is legally required, then it must be used for every journey, no matter how short or infrequent. It's illegal not not use one if the child's size requires one.

Quite apart from the legal aspect, how would you feel if that "odd short journey" was the one where you had an accident, and the child was injured or killed ?

It's not as simple as that. Yes, a child under 3 must always be in a child seat regardless of the journey in a private car, however a child aged 3 or over who would normally be required a child seat MAY travel in the rear without one if the journey is unexpected, over a short distance and most importantly necessary.

neilmcl

photome wrote: »

Guessing no one needs to use a seat belt either if it's a short journey in your world

To be fair the fact that a child doesn't use a child seat doesn't preclude them from using an adult seat belt, and the poster never implied that either.

sevenhills

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

You don't half post some drivel :mad:

I am glad that I can educate someone

Unexpected journeys

If the correct child car seat isn’t available, a child aged 3 or older can use an adult seat belt if the journey is all of the following:

• unexpected
• necessary
• over a short distance

You can’t take children under 3 on an unexpected journey in a vehicle without the correct child car seat, unless both of the following apply:

• it’s a licensed taxi or minicab
• the child travels on a rear seat without a seat belt

No room for a third child car seat

Children under 3 must be in a child car seat. If there’s no room for a third child car seat in the back of the vehicle, the child must travel in the front seat with the correct child car seat.
Children aged 3 or older can sit in the back using an adult belt.


https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-a-child-can-travel-without-a-car-seat

Warwick_Hunt

sevenhills wrote: »

I am glad that I can educate someone

Unexpected journeys

If the correct child car seat isn’t available, a child aged 3 or older can use an adult seat belt if the journey is all of the following:

• unexpected
• necessary
• over a short distance

You can’t take children under 3 on an unexpected journey in a vehicle without the correct child car seat, unless both of the following apply:

• it’s a licensed taxi or minicab
• the child travels on a rear seat without a seat belt

No room for a third child car seat

Children under 3 must be in a child car seat. If there’s no room for a third child car seat in the back of the vehicle, the child must travel in the front seat with the correct child car seat.
Children aged 3 or older can sit in the back using an adult belt.


https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-a-child-can-travel-without-a-car-seat

No mention of the occasional journey you originally claimed.

Ebe_Scrooge

sevenhills wrote: »

I am glad that I can educate someone

Unexpected journeys

If the correct child car seat isn’t available, a child aged 3 or older can use an adult seat belt if the journey is all of the following:

• unexpected
• necessary
• over a short distance

OK, fair point - please accept my apologies


That does raise an interesting point though - what is the definition of "unexpected", or of "short distance" ? I regularly ( i.e. twice a week ) do a 300-mile journey - so, to me, a journey of 40 miles I'd consider a short distance. If the police were to stop you and query your lack of child seat, what would they consider a short journey ? ( and when I say "you", I don't mean you personally ! )


What is the point of having a law when it would seem that one can disregard it whenever it suits ? "Well, officer, I was only driving 30 miles so didn't bother with a child seat". "Very good, Sir, on your way". Might try a similar thing myself ... "Do you realise you were doing 100 mph Sir?" "Yes, but I know the road like the back of my hand, and I'm a really good driver" "Very good, Sir, on your way" :rotfl:

kmb500

the third row of seats is useful when you're towing around your kids and their friends. My mum used to have a Peugeot 406 estate which had 2 kids seats in the boot, then had a Zafira, and the Zafira you can even fit two adults comfortably in the back row. Saying that with the car loaded up it struggled to move with its worthless 1.6 petrol engine. But it was very practical and my parents loved it. unfortunately some idiot drove head first into the side of it. I was sitting in the back and this car suddenly appeared next to me and my door bent inwards. That was a fun journey.

Ebe_Scrooge

kmb500 wrote: »

you can even fit two adults comfortably in the back row.

You can certainly fit 2 adults in the back - though I'd question whether they'd fit "comfortably" LOL.

kmb500

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

You can certainly fit 2 adults in the back - though I'd question whether they'd fit "comfortably" LOL.

Depends on your definition really, if you can fit people in without their knees touching the back of the seats and without their head hitting the roof then I'd call that sufficient comfort.

Warwick_Hunt

kmb500 wrote: »

Depends on your definition really, if you can fit people in without their knees touching the back of the seats and without their head hitting the roof then I'd call that sufficient comfort.

Have you ever sat in the back row of a zafira?

The seats are very low and without proper leg room.

Tigsteroonie

I have once had adult passengers in the third row of our Ford SMax. They weren't comfortable but it was that or pay for a taxi.

We like our 7-seater for the boot volume we get with the third row folded down (they go flat to the floor). It means we can take everything on holiday with us, and I do mean, everything. It has also come in useful for transporting furniture and even fence panels (which fit diagonally).