Jeep/Landrover rear passengers? Law?

[love machine]

I've got an old 2 seater jeep, in the pickup style back there are wheelarches to sit on, like a landrover and plenty to hang onto. You could even sit on the floor. I was debating taking a couple of people surfing and imagined a police car pulling me over and giving me a hefty fine.

There are no seats and no seatbelts. I figure that it is OK to have someone in the back of a van or a hard top landrover with no seats, what about a no-top jeep?

I figure it is probably illegal as it could look like there was an element of fun involved?

Thanks, stu

[Plotloss]

Its not alright to carry someone in the back of a van or the back of a landie with no seats.

You can carry in the back of a Land Rover if its got seats but then the V5 will reflect that.

[liszt]

As the man says, it is all down to how many passengers the V5 says the vehicle can carry.

[gone]

You would be looking at unsuitable use offence. Endorsable as well!

[Vipers]

Love Machine, think of the worst case scenario, you are involved in ahead on crash, back seat passenters go zipping past you on their way through the windscreen, killing you in the process, and probably themselves.

Some years ago, similar accident happened to a mum with child in rear facing child seat in front of car, head on collision, child in back, no seatbelt flew thorugh front window, elbow smashing babies head on the way killing the baby, and himself.

Police said the accident was "Survivable" had the lad been wearing a seat belt. Only mother survived.

Gruesome I know, but just aint worth it.

Safe driving, and surfing my friend.

[8Pack]

Not really connected, but: Many years ago, I was in a friends car, sat immediently behind him. The regs then didn't need seat belts.

In the middle of town, (i.e. low speed) he had cause to brake heavily. The car was a 2 door with tip-up front seats, I went forward and pushed him heavily into the steering wheel.

No collision occured, and luckily no harm was done, and to this day he has forgiven me, but I couldn't stop myself from being thrown forward.

P.S. I've never considered a 2 door car since!

[Neezer]

Depends when the jeep was made. If it was after '84 ish then i think there's no way you can have people in the back without seatbelts. If they had a bench seat to sit on that would be fine, but you can't have them sitting in the 'bed' as it were.

Im my landie i have fitted inertia reel seatbelts which handily put a large metal bar in between the front passengers and the back passengers, so people can hold on!