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

Car_54

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

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.

As I suspect you already know, there is no definition, it's down to the courts.

I'd expect a court to apply the "reasonable man" test. As a very reasonable man myself, I'd say your 40 mile example is taking the p***;)

sevenhills

[quote=[Deleted User];73055505]As I suspect you already know, there is no definition, it's down to the courts.

[/QUOTE]

If the police officer thought everyone was safe, I don't think he/she would bother.

unholyangel

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

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 ! )

I've read the various bits of legislation but it doesn't seem to mention any of the above - not even in exemptions. However in the RTA section 15(1), it does say a person must not without reasonable excuse drive the vehicle on a road unless the child is wearing a seat belt in conformity with the regualtions.

But when it first came into effect (2006), news articles sounded like they were perhaps quoting from official guidance and used the phrasing "short journeys that are an unexpected necessity".

So perhaps a short journey to the shops in a friends car wouldn't be allowed but if you were taken into hospital suddenly & needed someone to pick your child up from school, that would probably be okay.

Korkyb

I had a Zafira a few years ago & adults did go in the back.


Getting in and out was the main issue (so not for those with mobility issues) but once they were in it was ok. (I travelled in the back a few times).


Took a Zafira full of colleagues from Aberdeen to Edinburgh (around 130 miles) for a "team building weekend".......


The 2 in the back seemed to be quite happy with their lot (although to be fair they did have a bottle of vodka to ease their journey).

Warwick_Hunt

sevenhills wrote: »

If the police officer thought everyone was safe, I don't think he/she would bother.

More likely you'd get a ticket and be explaining to a court if you didn't pay.

Herzlos

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

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 ! )

I'd treat unexpected as emergency; needing to take a kid home or hospital in a friends car, and I'd treat short as "as short as possible".

So you could get a neighbour to take your kid to school because your wife took the car seat to work and is stuck in traffic, but you can't get the neighbour to take the kid 30 miles to Ikea.

Herzlos

Back on topic: thanks for the advice. Zafira it is!