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I often wonder where the law stands with stretch limos and seat belts. I'd hate to see a ban on gangs of hen night ladies mooning out of the window on Regent Street.
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From my employer's website, written by NIck Bowyer November 2005. Can't see why it would affect your situation.
Due to the difficulties in protecting side facing occupants in front and rear impact situations, the European Commission has been considering a ban on the fitment of side facing seats to all motor vehicles for many years, with proposals on this subject dating back to the mid 1990's. However, the ban has finally been implemented as part of a package of amendments to the EC Directives on seats, safety belts and safety belt anchorages. The amending Directives issued as part of this package are as follows:
2005/39/EC - amending 74/408/EEC on the seats, seat anchorages and head restraints.
2005/40/EC - amending 77/541/EEC on safety belts and restraint systems.
2005/41/EC - amending 76/115/EEC on safety belt anchorages.
The prohibition on the fitment of side facing seats applies to all motor vehicles, with the following exceptions:
M2 and M3 category vehicles of Classes I, II or A (i.e. buses and coaches with provisions for standing passengers).
Ambulances and vehicles intended for use by the armed services, civil defence and fire services.
M3 category vehicles of Class B (i.e. buses and coaches without provisions for standing passengers), having a gross vehicle weight greater than 10,000 kg. However, side facing seats are only permitted in these vehicles if they are grouped together at the rear of the vehicle to form an integrated saloon of up to 10 seats. This exemption is only available until 20/10/10, although this time limit may be extended, pending a review of accident statistics.
The other changes included in these amending Directives are the removal of the exemptions for folding seats and the introduction of specific clauses to exempt restraint systems intended solely for use of disabled people.
The implementation dates for these new Directives are as follows:
20/10/06 for all new types of vehicle, and
20/10/07 for all new vehicles.
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Yep - thanks for the plug!
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As far as I am aware the current state of law re seats /belts in UK relate to forward facing seats only.
It will require a Statutory Instrument to bring the EEC Law as advised by Rebecca into UK Law and I have as yet to see this.
Don't think Landrover defender County are going to be too pleased with this as they have side facing in the rear.
dvd
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AFAIK if the seats were fitted by the manufacturer and were legal at the time of manufacture, it can't be failed. The garage may not want any responsibility for the inadequate protection of seat belts fitted by them in sideways seats.
The Citroen D Safari of the '70s had sideways seats also.
Hawkeye
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Stranger in a strange land
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Don't think Landrover defender County are going to be too pleased with this as they have side facing in the rear.
I don't think the new model has, perhaps anticipating this?
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There is a brand new Defender (56 reg) in the carpark at work still as shiny as a new pin which has side facing seats in the rear.
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Phil
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The key part is these words:
The implementation dates for these new Directives are as follows:
20/10/06 for all new types of vehicle, and
20/10/07 for all new vehicles.
So Landrover can continue to make existing designs until 10/10/07 but any new design introduced after 20/10/06 (e.g. New Freelander?) would have to comply now.
The manufacturers would also have had the consultation period so will have known this was coming for 2-3 years.
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Phone this co. www.quickfitsbs.co.uk/
They have been retrofitting seat belts for years & know the rules etc.
Incidentally Rebeccas post is only relavent for new builds & has no relavence for existing installs.
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"As far as I am aware the current state of law re seats /belts in UK relate to forward facing seats only."
The belts for the folding rear-facing seats in my Volvo are tested at every MOT. If I leave the seats folded down under the boot floor the examiner pulls them out in order to check the belts. Even new and unfamiliar examiners seem to be alert to the existence of these concealed seats.
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Just called a very well-known Landy spares specialist who gave me the same story as my garage. This is odd. It seems the vehicle with its belt-less seats will pass the MOT but if I fit belts it doesn't comply with the new rules.
If that is the case then fill in your own expletive.
I feel a trip to the wilder shores of Ebay coming on.
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