Legality of bench seats

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M

Martin Edwards

Guest
I'm considdering a landy as a daily use car.

I have 4 kids. I occasionally do overnight hikes & canoe trips, so the long
floor of a 110 would be useful.

My question.....

How legal are bench seats in the back?

I assume I'd need seatbelts, but would I need windows (Yes, i'd WANT them
but would I NEED them?)

as a teacher, would I be able to occasionally be able to cart pupils around,
assuming I had business use insurance?

Thanx in advance

Martin


 

"Martin Edwards" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I'm considdering a landy as a daily use car.
>
> I have 4 kids. I occasionally do overnight hikes & canoe trips, so the long
> floor of a 110 would be useful.
>
> My question.....
>
> How legal are bench seats in the back?
>
> I assume I'd need seatbelts, but would I need windows (Yes, i'd WANT them
> but would I NEED them?)
>
> as a teacher, would I be able to occasionally be able to cart pupils around,
> assuming I had business use insurance?

I don't think (for me) it would be the legality, it's the safety. I can't see them as safe as forward or
rear facing.

Nige


 
Martin Edwards wrote:

> How legal are bench seats in the back?
>
> I assume I'd need seatbelts, but would I need windows (Yes, i'd WANT them
> but would I NEED them?)

My understanding is that seatbelts are still not mandatory for side
facing seats.

I can't find anything online confirming this, however this:
http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/hgvpsvoperators/vehicletesting/psvseatbeltchecks.htm
says that belts aren't required on side facing seats on PSVs, but that's
not very relevant to a landy of course.

Paul

--
Paul Everett
repton at repton dot org
http://www.repton.org/
 

"Paul Everett" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Martin Edwards wrote:
>
> > How legal are bench seats in the back?
> >
> > I assume I'd need seatbelts, but would I need windows (Yes, i'd WANT them
> > but would I NEED them?)
>
> My understanding is that seatbelts are still not mandatory for side
> facing seats.
>
> I can't find anything online confirming this, however this:
> http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/hgvpsvoperators/vehicletesting/psvseatbeltchecks.htm
> says that belts aren't required on side facing seats on PSVs, but that's
> not very relevant to a landy of course.
>
> Paul
>
> --
> Paul Everett
> repton at repton dot org
> http://www.repton.org/

From an MOT point side or rear facing seats don't
require belt
as for the safety aspect there are differing points of
view as to whether more injury is caused by belts
with the body and neck moving sideways in the event
of a crash

Andy
--
SWB Series 2a ( dressed as a 3) "Bruce"
It's big, it's mean it's really, really green


 
On or around Tue, 28 Sep 2004 19:07:01 -0700, "Martin Edwards"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>I'm considdering a landy as a daily use car.
>
>I have 4 kids. I occasionally do overnight hikes & canoe trips, so the long
>floor of a 110 would be useful.
>
>My question.....
>
>How legal are bench seats in the back?
>
>I assume I'd need seatbelts, but would I need windows (Yes, i'd WANT them
>but would I NEED them?)
>
>as a teacher, would I be able to occasionally be able to cart pupils around,
>assuming I had business use insurance?
>

you're OK for private use, but for any "organised" excursion involving
children (erm... I forget the age cut-off for this, might be 16) then
sideways bench seats are a no-no. Such things as scouts and the like, or
school trips or anything "organised", also I think hire and reward work like
taking children to school.

I don't think you need windows.

depending on how many you want to carry, you can get 4 forward-facing
fold-up seats in the back of a van-bodied 110.

 
Austin Shackles wrote:
> On or around Tue, 28 Sep 2004 19:07:01 -0700, "Martin Edwards"
> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>
>
>>I'm considdering a landy as a daily use car.
>>
>>I have 4 kids. I occasionally do overnight hikes & canoe trips, so the long
>>floor of a 110 would be useful.
>>
>>My question.....
>>
>>How legal are bench seats in the back?
>>
>>I assume I'd need seatbelts, but would I need windows (Yes, i'd WANT them
>>but would I NEED them?)
>>
>>as a teacher, would I be able to occasionally be able to cart pupils around,
>>assuming I had business use insurance?
>>
>
>
> you're OK for private use, but for any "organised" excursion involving
> children (erm... I forget the age cut-off for this, might be 16) then
> sideways bench seats are a no-no. Such things as scouts and the like, or
> school trips or anything "organised", also I think hire and reward work like
> taking children to school.
>
> I don't think you need windows.
>
> depending on how many you want to carry, you can get 4 forward-facing
> fold-up seats in the back of a van-bodied 110.
>
However, if you are planning to use them on a regular basis I would be
very careful. I had a pair in the back of my 110 and you eithr have to
scramble out or fold one seat up. Fit 2 pairs and you double the
problems. It would be very difficult to get people out in an emergency.
Also bear in mind that folded up they would cover both wheel boxes end
to end, so your only load area would be the floor. With the seats up you
have minimal storage, and then only small, soft bags.
 
On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:14:45 +0100, Austin Shackles
<[email protected]> wrote:

>you're OK for private use, but for any "organised" excursion involving
>children (erm... I forget the age cut-off for this, might be 16) then
>sideways bench seats are a no-no. Such things as scouts and the like, or
>school trips or anything "organised", also I think hire and reward work like
>taking children to school.

Did I missowt there??? Have you put forward facin' seats in the back
of your Disco?


--
Some Land Roveresque (101 biased), links available
from: http://links.solis.co.uk/Geek/X4_Land_Rover/
I also have a little Land Rover site biased toward
my beloved 101 "Grumble", at: http://www.101fc.net


Reading this in 'alt.fan.landrover'? Did you know
there's a group FAQ: http://www.aflfaq.dyndns.info
 
On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 20:00:17 +0100, Paul Everett
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Martin Edwards wrote:
>
>> How legal are bench seats in the back?
>>
>> I assume I'd need seatbelts, but would I need windows (Yes, i'd WANT them
>> but would I NEED them?)
>
>My understanding is that seatbelts are still not mandatory for side
>facing seats.
>
>I can't find anything online confirming this, however this:
>http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/hgvpsvoperators/vehicletesting/psvseatbeltchecks.htm
>says that belts aren't required on side facing seats on PSVs, but that's
>not very relevant to a landy of course.
>

Seat belts aren't required at all on Stage Carriage vehicles, side
facing or not. When was the last time you saw seat belts on a bus? And
how do you provide standing passengers with a seat belt?

Alex
 
On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:38:21 +0100, Mother <"@ {mother} @"@101fc.net>
wrote:

>On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:14:45 +0100, Austin Shackles
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>you're OK for private use, but for any "organised" excursion involving
>>children (erm... I forget the age cut-off for this, might be 16) then
>>sideways bench seats are a no-no. Such things as scouts and the like, or
>>school trips or anything "organised", also I think hire and reward work like
>>taking children to school.
>
>Did I missowt there??? Have you put forward facin' seats in the back
>of your Disco?

How about rear-facing seats in the front?

Alex
 
I guess it depends on the age of the vehicle, if it was legal when it was
new, it probably is now.

I have taken my bench seats out, but I only have two seats belts in the
vehicle, the middle and rear passengers have to do without, and that is
quite legal for a vehicle of my age.


--
Larry
Series 3 rust and holes





"Martin Edwards" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm considdering a landy as a daily use car.
>
> I have 4 kids. I occasionally do overnight hikes & canoe trips, so the
long
> floor of a 110 would be useful.
>
> My question.....
>
> How legal are bench seats in the back?
>
> I assume I'd need seatbelts, but would I need windows (Yes, i'd WANT them
> but would I NEED them?)
>
> as a teacher, would I be able to occasionally be able to cart pupils
around,
> assuming I had business use insurance?
>
> Thanx in advance
>
> Martin
>
>


 
On or around Tue, 28 Sep 2004 20:51:16 GMT, Alex <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>Seat belts aren't required at all on Stage Carriage vehicles, side
>facing or not. When was the last time you saw seat belts on a bus? And
>how do you provide standing passengers with a seat belt?


.... Unless they're used for school transport, for children under 14. IIRC,
ICBW, IANAL etc.


 
On or around Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:33:38 +0100, John Moppett
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>Austin Shackles wrote:
>> On or around Tue, 28 Sep 2004 19:07:01 -0700, "Martin Edwards"
>> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>>
>>
>>
>> depending on how many you want to carry, you can get 4 forward-facing
>> fold-up seats in the back of a van-bodied 110.
>>
>However, if you are planning to use them on a regular basis I would be
>very careful. I had a pair in the back of my 110 and you eithr have to
>scramble out or fold one seat up. Fit 2 pairs and you double the
>problems. It would be very difficult to get people out in an emergency.
>Also bear in mind that folded up they would cover both wheel boxes end
>to end, so your only load area would be the floor. With the seats up you
>have minimal storage, and then only small, soft bags.

when the seats are in use, you can get stuff beside the seats on the
wheelboxes, albeit only long thin stuff.

the fold-up seats (or the ones I had, anyway) do also remove without tools,
for occasions when you want all the loadspace. I agree with the comments
about access, although in practice it's not too much hassle, and really no
worse than a 2-door car, where you have to fold up a front seat to get out
from the back.

 
On or around Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:38:21 +0100, Mother <"@ {mother}
@"@101fc.net> enlightened us thusly:

>On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:14:45 +0100, Austin Shackles
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>you're OK for private use, but for any "organised" excursion involving
>>children (erm... I forget the age cut-off for this, might be 16) then
>>sideways bench seats are a no-no. Such things as scouts and the like, or
>>school trips or anything "organised", also I think hire and reward work like
>>taking children to school.
>
>Did I missowt there??? Have you put forward facin' seats in the back
>of your Disco?

forward-facing 3-seater bench, with 3 belts. I'll be needing to get 7
anklebiters into it soon.

pictures to follow, as I said. I make take orders for the bit to bolt it
down to :)

 
On or around Wed, 29 Sep 2004 02:20:22 +0100, "Larry" <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>I have taken my bench seats out, but I only have two seats belts in the
>vehicle, the middle and rear passengers have to do without, and that is
>quite legal for a vehicle of my age.

BUT, not if you do school transport, say. It's fine for private use.

The rules for "organised" trips with children have gotten very strict, and
you have to have seat belts. One of my cars didn't have rear belts fitted,
and I had to fit 'em. ditto the middle seat in the 110, which didn't on
mine even have mountings, so I had to make those as well. Somewhere, I have
the regulations for retro-fitting seat belts to minibuses and so on.

 
On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 07:34:38 +0100, Austin Shackles
<[email protected]> wrote:


> I'll be needing to get 7 anklebiters into it soon.

You didn't get that TV fixed then ...? ;-)

T i m
 
T i m wrote:
> On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 07:34:38 +0100, Austin Shackles
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I'll be needing to get 7 anklebiters into it soon.
>
> You didn't get that TV fixed then ...? ;-)

Austin makes part of a living carting the little bleeders around for
other people who should have had a television. He has to put up with
the little sods and didn't even have the fun of making them :)

--
EMB
change two to the number to reply
 
On or around Wed, 29 Sep 2004 20:21:16 +1200, EMB <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>T i m wrote:
>> On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 07:34:38 +0100, Austin Shackles
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>I'll be needing to get 7 anklebiters into it soon.
>>
>> You didn't get that TV fixed then ...? ;-)
>
>Austin makes part of a living carting the little bleeders around for
>other people who should have had a television. He has to put up with
>the little sods and didn't even have the fun of making them :)

on the flip side, I do get paid for it, even if not all that well, which is
more'n most parents get. and I get to toss 'em out when they reach school
or home (depending on time of day) and not have to bother about 'em
thereafter. It could be worse.

I'll go and get the camera out of the motor and sort this webpage out, 's
raining anyway, so not much chance of getting any jbex done outside.

 
On or around Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:38:21 +0100, Mother <"@ {mother}
@"@101fc.net> enlightened us thusly:

>On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:14:45 +0100, Austin Shackles
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>you're OK for private use, but for any "organised" excursion involving
>>children (erm... I forget the age cut-off for this, might be 16) then
>>sideways bench seats are a no-no. Such things as scouts and the like, or
>>school trips or anything "organised", also I think hire and reward work like
>>taking children to school.
>
>Did I missowt there??? Have you put forward facin' seats in the back
>of your Disco?

Here y'go:

http://www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk/disco/

 
My 110CSW '98 has the lapbelts as well. Although they are not tested in the
MoT, I still had to have them type approved on the first MoT I had at 12
months old ?? Still don't understand why I had to get an MoT at 12 mths
instead of 3 yrs. However chief gopher at Bristol DVLA HQ insisted this was
the procedure. !!!



> My 110 has 6 lap belts for the bench seats in the back, as fitted in
> the factory so I assume they are all legal and proper for private and
> business use. however mine very rarely get used.
>
>


 
"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On or around Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:38:21 +0100, Mother <"@ {mother}
> @"@101fc.net> enlightened us thusly:
>
> >On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:14:45 +0100, Austin Shackles
> ><[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >>you're OK for private use, but for any "organised" excursion involving
> >>children (erm... I forget the age cut-off for this, might be 16) then
> >>sideways bench seats are a no-no. Such things as scouts and the like, or
> >>school trips or anything "organised", also I think hire and reward work like
> >>taking children to school.
> >
> >Did I missowt there??? Have you put forward facin' seats in the back
> >of your Disco?
>
> Here y'go:
>
> http://www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk/disco/
>
Austin That's not an home made Bazooka under the
back seat is it if so put me down for one of those
Quite handy for keeping the kids/neighbours in check


Andy
--
SWB Series 2a ( dressed as a 3) "Bruce"
It's big, it's mean it's really, really green


 
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