Information

Method of Inspection

Reason for rejection

This inspection applies to all statutory seat belts. For additional information see pages 2-10 of this section.

Statutory fitment

1.  Check that each seat that requires a seat belt is fitted with one of the appropriate type.

A Statutory Seat Belt

· missing

· of the wrong type.

5.1 Seat Belt Requirements General Information

1.  Seats requiring belts
Seatbelt requirements depend on vehicle age, type and number of seats. To determine the requirements refer to the flow charts on pages 3 to 8 and then the relevant table on pages 9 to 10 in conjunction with the following notes. Unless stated, seats are not required to be fitted with seat belts.

2.  Passenger seats
Passenger seats are those designated for normal use when the vehicle is travelling on the road. Seating arrangements only intended for use when the vehicle is stationary (e.g. settee etc in the living area of a motor caravan) are not required to have seat belts.  

3.  Side facing seats
Side facing seats are not required to be fitted with seat belts.

4.  Occasional seats
Occasional seats that fold down when not in use are not required to be fitted with seat belts.  Care must be taken in assessing whether seats are, by manufacture, intended for everyday use with the ability to be folded for extra luggage space or intended for occasional use. Seats for everyday use should not be considered as “occasional” seats.

5. Goods vehicle conversion
A goods vehicle which has been converted to a passenger vehicle specification (i.e. fitted with rear seats and side windows etc.) must comply with the relevant “passenger vehicle” requirements.

6. Seats in goods vehicles
Seats fitted to the rear of the driver’s compartment in a goods vehicle are not required to be fitted with seat belts unless the seat is the specified front passenger seat (see note 7).  

7. Specified front passenger seat
The “specified front passenger seat” requiring a seat belt is the seat which is

·  foremost in the vehicle and

·  furthest from the drivers seat

Unless there is a fixed partition separating the passenger seat from a space in front of it which is alongside the driver’s seat, e.g. certain types of taxis, buses etc.

8. 3 Point belt
3 point belt” means a seat belt which

· restrains the upper and lower parts of the torso

· includes a lap belt

· is anchored at not less than three points

· is designed for use by an adult.

9. Adult harness belt
An adult harness belt comprising a lap belt and shoulder straps bearing a British Standard or European approval marking (an upper case ’E’ or  lower case ‘e’ and a number) is an acceptable alternative to any of the seat belt types listed.

10. Vehicle definitions
An Ambulance motor vehicle which is specially designed and constructed (and not merely adapted) for carrying as equipment permanently fixed to the vehicle, equipment used for medical, dental, or other health purposes and is used primarily for the carriage of persons suffering from illness, injury or disability.

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.

A `living van' is "a vehicle, whether mechanically propelled or not, which is used for living accommodation by one or more persons and which is also used for the carriage of goods or burden which are not needed by such one or more persons for the purpose of their residence in the vehicle". Living vans are classed as goods vehicles and, depending on their weight, are therefore in either Class 4 or 7 within the MOT test scheme or are subject to HGV plating and testing.

A `Coach' is a motor vehicle which is constructed or adapted to carry more than 16 seated passengers, with a DGW of more than 7,500kg and a maximum speed in excess of 60mph.

Flow Charts to determine Seat Belt Requirements

Three-Wheeled Vehicles first Used before 17 June 1999

Passenger vehicles, Motor Caravans & Ambulances with up to eight passenger seats

Minibuses, Motor Caravans & Ambulances with 9-12 Passenger Seats

Minibuses, Motor Caravans & Ambulances with 13-16 Passenger Seats

Coaches and Other Buses

Goods Vehicles & Living vans

Key to Flow Charts