Camper vans and passengers

[bazjude2998]

What are the legalities of carrying 2 passengers in the rear of a camper van.
The rear seat runs along the side of the van,no seat belts or provisions for.
Hoping to travel to Southern Ireland.
Thanks

[myvision]

Can't do it every passenger must have a seatbelt.

[croyde]

Double check but when I was showing an interest a few years ago it would seem that every passenger must have a seat belt.

Shame as I had hoped that someone could nip back and make me a cuppa and a bacon sarnie whilst crawling along the A303.

Or I could have a nap whilst someone else drove.

[southendpier]

It is quite easy to put seat belts in. I put 3 in the back of a VW Type 2 bay. BUT i believe that sideways facing seats cannot be used as 'travel seats'.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regu...

[R56Cooper]

It's only illegal if you get caught remember!

(seriously prob not the best idea, least of all if you have an accident)

[geeks]

southendpier said:

It is quite easy to put seat belts in. I put 3 in the back of a VW Type 2 bay. BUT i believe that sideways facing seats cannot be used as 'travel seats'.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regu...

Yeah pretty sure thats correct we have a permanent "couch" in the rear (matron) and I had to make sure it was sideways on or it would HAVE to have had seat belts fitted, every forward (or rearward) facing seat must have seatbelts regardless of it you intend to use actually use them or not.

[Dan_The_Man]

What year van ? I have several classics with no seat belts fitted and they are totally legal.

[bazjude2998]

Thanks for all replies.The van is long wheelbase 2006 Citroen Relay
I was told when purchasing the vehicle It was legal as the seat in the rear was not facing foreward so long as the two front seats were occupied and using the belts.

[Nigel Worc's]

bazjude2998 said:

Thanks for all replies.The van is long wheelbase 2006 Citroen Relay
I was told when purchasing the vehicle It was legal as the seat in the rear was not facing foreward so long as the two front seats were occupied and using the belts.

Look on the V5C, that'll list how many passengers it is approved to carry.

As an example I have a 53 reg Autosleepers Nuevo (Peugeot Boxer based), they did two versions, the standard 2 seater version and the ES (extra seats) which is a four berth four people carrying variant.

They have gone to an awful lot of trouble (engineering wise) so that the two "couches" down the side convert (really quite easily) to two forward facing travel seats, with headrests & three point belts.

If it was legal to convert into side facing seats I'm sure they would've done, as it'd be much easier (& cheaper) to do.

Edited by Nigel Worc's on Wednesday 27th July 12:13