Hi jet with seats in back but no belts

Can anyone tell me what the score is with a camper conversion but no seat belts fitted in the back, would I get pulled up with passengers in?
Ps attend the weekend bash at Buxton,

Think if some one is sat there it would be an offence.

MOT rules would need looking at as I think all forwards facing seats require seatbelts but search on google for mot testers handbook for the full seatbelt test rules.

This question was raised quite a lot on the SBMCC forum . If seats are fitted in the back without belts then they can only be used when the van is parked up . If you travel without a belt fitted you then risk being prosecuted for not wearing one and it also raises problems with insurance as you must state the passenger carrying capacity of the vehicle and you would be in excess of the authorised seating .


Eddie

the seats have to pe properly installed too if passengers are going to be using them while its being driven

hi wayne, im donella, the one with all dogs and the green van needing a wash!

i think youll find your seats are for when the van is parked up only :-)

ok, this seems like another of those grey areas...
the gvnmt website doesn't mention motorhomes or campers but heres a link with a little info
http://www.motorhomeinfo.co.uk/seat-belts-in-motorhomes/

The MOT handbook requirements are here:-

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_510.htm



From the handbook:-

A `motor caravan' is "a motor vehicle (not being a living van) which is constructed or adapted for the carriage of passengers and their effects and which contains, as permanently installed equipment, the facilities which are reasonably necessary for enabling the vehicle to provide mobile living accommodation for its users". Motor caravans are not classed as goods vehicles for MOT test purposes and are therefore in Class 4 or 5 depending on their seating capacity but regardless of their size or weight.


The requirements are here on this flow chart:- http://www.motuk.co.uk/images/seatbelt2.pdf

From following the flow chart I feel parts D E and F apply to a hijet camper



But what do I know? Rear the rules for yourself and tell me what you come up with.

The point I raised about insurance also applies , if you have your van insured for the number of belted seats and then use additional un-belted seats for travelling in then your additional passengers are not insured .

Eddie

If installed seating doesn't comply with MOT standards, then I would say it is a vehicle unfit for use or not fit for the road thus giving the insurance company room to wiggle their way out of paying anything at all by making the whole policy null and void.

What age is the vehicle??, i cant remeber the exact year but there is a cut off when seat belts where fitted as standard, this might give you a liitle wiggle room as far as the plod goes!!

I had a word with my mate (MY freindly m.o.t tester) and he says camper seating doesnt come in to the m.o.t only the passenger seating that is specified on the V5c!

My thought is check your log book and only have specifed amount of ppl in it or contact dvla and try and get it changed but then i think it would have to go for an IVA test to make sure the mods compy with road safty BS

The HiJet was registered in Sept 2000, it doesnt seem worth risking passangers in the back whilst travelling, more from an insurance point of view

Hi Labrat, go to SBMCC.co.uk and read up on the legal aspects there . they will also advise you on any other motorhome questions , but in short , no belt , no passengers . unless stationary .

Cheers

Eddie