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Hi

I have been reading about rear seatbelts and especially the side seat not needing a seatbelt. I have also read that in the event of an accident it can be worse if you are sitting in the side seat than a normal rear facing seat.

Forgive my ignorance but why is it more dangerous to sit on the side seat? I have also read it can be more dangerous to wear a seatbelt on the side seat in an accident.

Can anyone tell me why and how it is dangerous on the side seat?

Many thanks

p.s hope this made sense

I belive that the only recomended (permited?) seat belts for side facing seats are "lap belts".  I would think that 3 point belts, though more secure and restraining, might be a greater danger in the more common, head on collision.  The belt across the chest and neck could be very dangerous in a head on or rear end impact if sitting sideways.

By by the same token, I supose that a 3 point harness could possibly offer the best protection on sideways seats in a case of side impact.  Its to do with the direction of the forces involved.

There can't realy be a best option for all possible eventualities.  I think though that the use of lap belts on side facing seats is proberably the best available comprimise.

I have heard rumours of this being reconsidered.  Has anyone else heard about changes to the regulations on side facing seats?

oops.. I seem to have hiched a ride!  Sorry jeanann  :-)

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Steven

Quote: Originally posted by dizzywitch on 23/1/2006

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Hi

I have been reading about rear seatbelts and especially the side seat not needing a seatbelt. I have also read that in the event of an accident it can be worse if you are sitting in the side seat than a normal rear facing seat.

Forgive my ignorance but why is it more dangerous to sit on the side seat? I have also read it can be more dangerous to wear a seatbelt on the side seat in an accident.

Can anyone tell me why and how it is dangerous on the side seat?

Many thanks

p.s hope this made sense

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hi,

just checked up with the cc&c people over the same thing. if seat belts are not fitted you dont have to have them, no side seat belts will be fitted even in new vans, its to dangerous. new campers / motorhomes must have the seat belt points (for fitting). 2007 i think that comes in. but belts still might be an extra.

hope that helps, if you need more info just give the cc or cc&c places a call.

floppy

I've been told that forward facing seats must have a seatbelt fitted.  Side facing seats dont need them by law, unless they are fitted as in some new vans.  I have also heard the same as you, that injuries to people are more horrific if sitting on a side-seat without a belt. I have tried several places to see if they will fit seat-belts to side seat but so far not found one willing to do this. If you find one, please email me and let me know. Good luck

Regards, Donna

I may have found a solution to the side seat saga as it is supposed to be dangerous to wear seatbelt due to injuries.

A friend of mine is an ex rally car driver and suggested using a rally seat seatbelt with a five point harness, this would hopefully minimize internel injury.

i think its the sideways movment that you need to stop even the head or you get the spine snapping as its a sidways movement. thats why the dont do side fitting belts.

if you dont have them fitted you can still carry people. it changes in 2009 i think if you then have rear belts you can only have people = belts in the rear. no  belts same as before, up to your weight limit.

floppy

Does any one have any references to these proposed changes?  I am wondering if they will be retrospective.

My current van will be long gone by 2009 but it might affect my next conversion.

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Steven

Just found this.

http://www.ukmotorhomes.net/faqs.shtml

Thanks JanAll

This bit is reasuring:-

The critical point for owners of older motorhomes is that it will not become illegal to carry passengers in the rear, provided that no seatbelts are fitted to any seats behind the driver and front passenger seats.

We very rarely carry passengers but good to know that we can if needed.  I think I would want fully belted forward facing seats in a more modern vehicle though.  I think the low speed of my current van (55mph max!) reduces the potential risks to an acceptable level.

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Steven

Hi Steven

Im going to print it off just in case it is ever an issue.

We have one forward facing belted seat which as been used occasionly but you never know if you just want to give someone a lift.

Jen