Shaggy Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 quick question about my G reg 1989 landrover 90. It has no seats or belts in the back, just bench type things. Am I required to have seat belts for passengers in the back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Actual benches, or just the wheel boxes? If you have benches, seatbelts are not a legal requirement, but they will probably be required by your insurer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted January 7, 2008 Author Share Posted January 7, 2008 Actual benches, or just the wheel boxes?If you have benches, seatbelts are not a legal requirement, but they will probably be required by your insurer. Actually, i dont think they are benches. Its whatever is under the carpet. Not checked yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 That's just the wheel box. folding bench seats or individual seats are available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted January 7, 2008 Author Share Posted January 7, 2008 Ok, so to be clear. Passengers do not legally need to have seatbelts in the back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 I'm not 100% on the law, but the loop hole comes down to the age of the vehicle, and the fact the seats are sideways facing, i think. As i said before, check with your insurer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 you should be fine on private land/estate, side facing seats don't require belts on that age of vehicle, my '89 110 didn't have any from new [seats removed 11 years ago]. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted January 7, 2008 Author Share Posted January 7, 2008 Ok thanks. I'm just worried about public roads. My boy has been travelling in the back with the dog on local trips, 2 - 3 miles. I did not give it a second thought until today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 this might help seat belt laws & more here including side facing seats HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted January 7, 2008 Author Share Posted January 7, 2008 Excellent. that covers it off. No belt required. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 There's a huge difference between what the law and your insurers say. Check with your insurer. that's the third time i've said it. i wouldn't be surprised if it isn't covered, in which case, it'll invalidate your policy quicker than you can say 'check with your insurer' Oooo look, four times.. Also, you're 'carrying a passenger not in a seat' (or similar), at the moment, i wouldn't be surprised if your insurance doesn't cover that either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted January 7, 2008 Author Share Posted January 7, 2008 Sorry I missed replying to it. I called them there fine. 5 times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Groovy - no problem then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Don't forget that in the event of a frontal impact whatever you have unsecured in the back (son & dog included) is going to either collide with the bulkhead / back of your seat or impact the windscreen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted January 7, 2008 Author Share Posted January 7, 2008 Yep, I wont make a habbit of it. And its for trips up the road only, I am aware that NO trip is safe. I just wanted to check if it was doable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSG Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 If it was my kids - I'd at least fit a bench or individual side facing fold up seat and a lap belt. Not as good as a three point belt and forward facing seat but better than nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diff Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 If there is a choice between a child in the back without a belt or in the front with a belt, the child must be seated in the front with the appropriate belt and booster/seat as required. It is also illegal to carry anyone in the back on the road without a fixed seat, whether sideways facing or not. ie it is illegal for your son to sit on the carpeted wheel boxes when used on the road. Hope this helps, Regards, Diff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted January 8, 2008 Author Share Posted January 8, 2008 Thanks Diff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diff Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Just remembered, I think the cut off date for forward facing rear seats without belts is March 1985 or 1986. In other words, if you install a forward facing seat in the back, it needs to have a belt. Sideways facing ones don't for your age of vehicle. Regards, Diff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted January 8, 2008 Author Share Posted January 8, 2008 Yeah, that's how I read it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicksmelly Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 The law says children must be sat in a seat with a seatbelt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_John Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 The law says children must be sat in a seat with a seatbelt. Just to clarify for others in a similar situation, the government webiste western mentions (http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/campaigns/childcarseats/faq08.htm#08D) specifically says: A child who is required to use child seats/boosters (ie all those under 135 cms in height who are also under 12 years of age) cannot travel in a sideways-facing seat. So, depends how old/tall your child is! Mine are well under this, therefore expensive front-facing seats in the back for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy_neutron Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 Yeah, it's illegal for kids to travel in sideways facing seats. There are some forward facing seats available from exmoor trim for about £130, but these are carp. They fit reasonably well but are quite flimsy and the seatbelt tends to go over the chest rather than the shoulder when putting a child in a booster seat. Thus making it quite unsafe. The better option is the lock and fold from exmoor, but at £1000 a pair, its quite expensive. I'd rather pay the £1000 than risk my kids though!. The other option to consider is that the new Defender has got fold away rear seats. Don't be tempted to rush out and buy any though as the load area floor shape is very different in the station wagon to the hard top. This means that the 07 defender foldaway seats can't even be fitted to the 07 defender hardtop. This may seem hideous, but just take a look under the arches next time you go go your dealers. Anyway, there may be another option, as i have heard that Exmoor trim may be trying to develop a mod kit so that the new style genuine landrover foldaway load area seats from the 07 defender can be fitted in all defenders. This i believe is going to happen next month. Check with them first though. They have got some on their site now under special offers for £500 a pair but these are the ones that won't fit. This is what i am going to do. Still expensive, but safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 ^^ Here's a photo of the wheelarch on my '07 110 XS CSW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_John Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 Personally I fitted the expensive lock and folds from Exmoor working on the same theory as Jimmy that it was better to spend the money than risk the kids, also as the seat belts are built in to the seats and not attached to the sides/roof of the Landy it means I can take the roof off without having to worry about the seat belts (still gotta worry about my belt of course!). The seats themselves are pretty solid - they weigh a ton and seem to be pretty well made with nice chunky feeling folding mechanism. When I get a minute I'll do a proper review of fitting them - which was not as straight-forward as it would first seem! In summary, nice seats, not sure they're worth £500 a piece, but I guess there was a significant amount of development and testing done on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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