the law

anybody know wot is the leagal side to putting seats and windows in the back of my van landy --1990 200tdi-(i have 2 grandkids and i keep slinging them in the back when i take the boat out) i was told its a loading area and as sutch its exempt from plods --err--interfearance--allen

I've heard that before a certain age you can put side facing seats without seat belts, if you put seat belts on side facing apparently they're illegal. Whether that from the factory I'm not sure, because the disco's of the same age have side facing rear seats with seat belts?
I might be talking nonsense but this is what I've heard.
Can't see a problem with fitting windows on yours unless it's registered as a van for tax reasons? Mine is down as a Estate on the V5 and when I got it it was a pick-up, so I lobbed a station wagon rear on it
Hope this helps

they dont have to have belts but if they are fitted they are tested at mot and must be worn

there is a cut off date for side facing td5 onwards maybe?

no under height or age kids in side facers at all as they cant be fitted with boosters etc (tell this to someone with a 7seat disco lol )

The somewhat strange effect of the booster seat law and seatbelt exemption for side facers is that you can carry kids in the back if there are no belts fitted, but the same seating fitted with lap belts wouldn't be allowed. The law really wasn't thought out with land rovers and side facing seats in mind.

FlyingPete said:

The somewhat strange effect of the booster seat law and seatbelt exemption for side facers is that you can carry kids in the back if there are no belts fitted, but the same seating fitted with lap belts wouldn't be allowed. The law really wasn't thought out with land rovers and side facing seats in mind.

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The age/height booster seat law over rules side seat exemption iirc. There is an 'unexpected use' clause but generally speaking kids subject to booster seat regs cannot use side facing seats

I was looking into this myself but when I rang the insurance up and was told it would then be classed as a modified 90, and put the premium up quite a lot.

I seem to remember lap belts are legal for side facing seats, but inertia reels aren't, because they don't work sideways in a head on collision, would this be correct?

wattfield said:

I seem to remember lap belts are legal for side facing seats, but inertia reels aren't, because they don't work sideways in a head on collision, would this be correct?

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As long as the axis of the reel is fore and aft it will work perfectly well. My SIII passed all MOTs with inertia lap belts.

A strong however though. I wouldn't carry small kids on sideways seats. We just fitted in the front. I'd fit forward facing seats if I had to carry them, but I'll bet that most insurance co's want to know about it and charge accordingly. B*stards. You make it safer and etc...

the kids are 9--and 5--the 9year old sits in the middel-f seat--and the 5yr old has a kids seat facing to the rear and bolted to the tub behind the drivers seat--trubel is the 5yr old- one wont fit in next year--so i need to change things, any ideas--allen--thanks for replys

wattfield said:

I seem to remember lap belts are legal for side facing seats, but inertia reels aren't, because they don't work sideways in a head on collision, would this be correct?

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Sounds plausible, but that said I can't imagine a lap or inertia reel being much good if your involved in a crash in a side facing seat

Dave90 said:

Sounds plausible, but that said I can't imagine a lap or inertia reel being much good if your involved in a crash in a side facing seat

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I ws thinking of inertia reels with shoulder straps, as they don't lock when fitted sideways. I have lap belts on a reel, but they lock into position rather than on impact, if you know what I mean.

What's the possibility and safety concerns of fitting harnesses to side facing seats

I've got two seats with integral inertia shoulder belts came out of a buss i think

Plan to fit them rear facing behind the bulkhead.

Sorry to hijack the thread but:

Any views?

Boxer said:

I've got two seats with integral inertia shoulder belts came out of a buss i think

Plan to fit them rear facing behind the bulkhead.

Sorry to hijack the thread but:

Any views?

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I'm not sure, but they may have to face forward to work.

I've fitted forward facing seats with integral seat belts in the back of my 110. All declared to the insurance Co.

My seats are made by these people: http://www.scotseats.co.uk/

Possibly but the only time you need them to work is when you are in reverse. lol.

Pretty sure they work in fore and aft mode but good point.

Rear facing is more convenient from an access point of view that's all.

Is that 'still game'?

' Filtered through Heather!'

Now I am hijacking a thread.

rear faceing sounds good--its only for short runs to chuck the boat in the water ect--but it looks like its a gray area concerning the law--dont want to change the landy so i will cobell sumat up , for next year--and see wot aperns--so to speek--thanks anyway allen