seatbelt laws

[nikkik]

Does anyone know the answer to the following:

I am in the UK with my 4 kids for a few weeks visiting family and have hired a regular family car. At the moment there is no problem as everyone has their own seat and is belted in. My husband will be arriving in a few days so this will present a problem... too many people/not enough seats.

Is it illegal for me or my husband to sit strapped in, in the back of the car with one of my youngest (18m or 4y old) on my lap??

[Gard]

Everyone in the vehicle must have thier own individual seat belt. The vehicle is also only insured for carrying the same person to seat ratio. So if theres 5 seats, there must only be 5 peope max. Hope that helps.

[sddsddean]

Also, the driver is responsible for making sure that anyone under 16 is belted up. Over 16, its their own responsibility.

[kempie]

Firstly, let me say that I do not like the idea of having a child on your lap for car travel. However, in the UK it is only illegal to carry a child in this manner in the front seat.

After extensive research of DVLA, Dft, RoSPA and various other sites I find that Gard's advice is not completely correct.

Everyone must wear a seatbelt - where fitted. The law currently does not prevent you from carrying more passengers than there are seat belts and restraints, but the way in which passengers are carried must not cause danger to any person in the vehicle (whatever that means).

How many passenger did you declare to the car hire firm?

[kempie]

As for sddsddean's point, the age of responsibility is 14.

[nikkik]

Thanks very much for your answers. What you quote Kempie is what I read on a couple of local council websites (I think it was) but wanted further confirmation. Could you please give me the links to websites you visited if that wouldn't be too much trouble?

Btw, I did not have to declare number of passengers to the car hire firm, they didn't ask.

[hedgehog661]

Correct the legal age for someone to be responsible for thier own seatbelt is 14 any one under that age is the responsibility (legally) of the driver.

It is illeagle to cause your vehcle to cause your vehicle to be oer loaded and this includes allowing more passengers than you have seats 1988 road traffic act ammended.

Anybody who allows thier or anyone elses child or adult for that matter without being securly seat belted or restrained needs some serious counselling

[sddsddean]

I stand corrected!

[Hammer]

I have a vague memory of anyone under the age of fourteen being classed as 2/3 of a person for insurance purposes - anyone know anything about this???

[cazz218]

i don't want to appear stupid but did you not know your husband was coming over??  if you did wouldn't it have been wise to have allowed for this when you hired the car - ie hired a big enough vehicle!  as for whether or not it is illegal surely that is not the point, the point is would you feel happy sitting one of your children on our lap??  i wouldn't risk my childs life like that legal or not.

[UsAndStuff]

My simple advice would be to contact the car hire company and ask them if you can upgrade your car to a bigger one.

What price can be put on a life in the event of an accident (remember no matter how good a driver you think you may be, you can't account for the other motorists!)

Can you imagine what would happen in the event of an accident when a child has flown forward, either between the seats and through the windscreen, or hit the back of the seat.

Sorry if I sound a little harsh, but it really annoys me when people put money in front of safety.

[nikkik]

I should have known that there is no simple answer. I should have expected all this pontificating. No, I didn't expect dh over. Herewith unsubsribing all threads on this website.

[mouthu]

I don't think it's a case of being legal yet, you need to ask yourself " If I drive into the back of a parked car, will I be able to hold onto my 18mnth old to stop him or her from going through the front windscreen and splattering all over the road"?

I don't mean to be rude, but it's the first thing I thought of.

[hedgehog661]

Unsubscribing???ie nobody gives the answer you want so chuck all your toys out the pram.nikkik