Seat belts

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Nick,
Thats a new one on me!

If that is teh case then the campervan manufacturers and sellers should be advising customers of that limitation,

However the majority of minbusesand crew buses are also based on commercial van chassis ---- yet again if what you say is true, how do these converters get round the limitation?

 

[Surfer]

Hello Nick,
Thats a new one on me!

If that is teh case then the campervan manufacturers and sellers should be advising customers of that limitation,

However the majority of minbusesand crew buses are also based on commercial van chassis ---- yet again if what you say is true, how do these converters get round the limitation?

I would think that it would depend on thier Certificate of Conformity under the Construction and Use Regulations 1986 as amended.

 

[NickinFrance]

Hello Nick,
Thats a new one on me!

See http://www.swift-talk.co.uk/forum/topics/fitting-a-lap-belt-in-a-bolero?commentId=2976642%3AComment%3A101171 & other references on the swift forum

I would guess that minibuses are type approved for more seats.

 

[NickinFrance]

If that is teh case then the campervan manufacturers and sellers should be advising customers of that limitation,

They do, http://www.swiftgroup.co.uk/motorhomes/swift/bolero/technical
Designater Passenger Seats 1
Berths (Sleeping Positions) 4

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Nick

I looked on your link to thr Bolero. It states 1passenger and 2 sleeping berths not 4 as you suggest.
I also looked on other swift techinal sheets and the number of passengers allowed is stated. So one has to assume that the passenger compliment is increased to match the living or sleeping capacity.
In the case of teh Bolero rear seat belts are not required as the number of passengers allowed is only one, and they will use the passenger seat in the cab.
So I agree with your point, in so far that a two sleeper motorhome is not designed or legally permitted to carry more than one passenger.

 

[NickinFrance]

Prof, that spec sheet has changed since I cut & pasted the figures.
The last message on the first page of the Swift Forum link I quoted says:
I am sorry you feel that way. In our view, all our literature is clear and differentiates between berths and passengers :

http://www.swiftgroup.co.uk/motorhomes/swift/bolero/technical/Prope...
Designated Passenger Seats1—Berths (Sleeping Positions)4—

I feel that we have answered your questions fully and honestly, but I cannot comment on the conversations between your Dealer and yourself as we were not party to this.

Ash
Also the layouts at http://www.swiftgroup.co.uk/motorhomes/swift/bolero/layouts shows 4 berth, 1 passenger layouts

 

[Surfer]

With all due respect, Swift can hardly be called an authorative source in relation to legislation which is why they probably do not have anything about limitations on their website.
However by the same token, if there are no seat belts on any of the other seats besides the front passenegr seat, then legally they probably cannot carry more than one passenger which makes you wonder why they are selling 4 berth motorhomes. Also makes you wonder how many motor home owners are transporting passengers liek children illegally.
I was under the impression that seat belts were compulsory on all new builds that involved carrying of passenegers. I am not sure from which year, but think it could be as far back as 1998. Legislation in 1986 covered seatbelts. See section 47 of http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regulation/47/made Also see http://www.ukmotorhomes.net/motorhome-faqs.shtml#seatbelts which seems to cover it in detail. Passengers can be carried in the back of a motorhome where no seat belts are fitted although this is not advised. Maybe this is something that PCs sister magazine could investigate.

 

[NickinFrance]

With all due respect, Swift can hardly be called an authorative source in relation to legislation which is why they probably do not have anything about limitations on their website.

I would have thought that Swift would have a pretty good idea about vehicle legislation & did you see the diagram I posted with the capacities?

However by the same token, if there are no seat belts on any of the other seats besides the front passenegr seat, then legally they probably cannot carry more than one passenger

There is no probably, vehicles registered after 2007 can only carry the number of passengers that there are seat belts for.

which makes you wonder why they are selling 4 berth motorhomes.

That was the point of the Swift forum thread I mentioned

 

[Surfer]

With all due respect, Swift can hardly be called an authorative source in relation to legislation which is why they probably do not have anything about limitations on their website.

I would have thought that Swift would have a pretty good idea about vehicle legislation & did you see the diagram I posted with the capacities?

However by the same token, if there are no seat belts on any of the other seats besides the front passenegr seat, then legally they probably cannot carry more than one passenger

There is no probably, vehicles registered after 2007 can only carry the number of passengers that there are seat belts for.

which makes you wonder why they are selling 4 berth motorhomes.

That was the point of the Swift forum thread I mentioned

Further on in my post I clearly stated that yes you can carry people legally withourt seat belts and even posted the links. There is no issue.