Seat belts in cars and dual purpose vehicles
Published 1 May 2010
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/seat-belts-in-cars-and-dual-purpose-vehicles/seat-belts-in-cars-and-dual-purpose-vehicles
General guidance and advice on the legislative requirements in Great Britain relating to seat belts in cars and dual purpose vehicles used on the road. These requirements are set out in full in regulations 46 and 47 of The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986 No. 1078).
Where a vehicle has received either Individual Vehicle or Single Vehicle Approval (for example, because it is imported or amateur built), other standards may be permitted which provide an equivalent level of safety. Every effort has been made to ensure that it is factually correct but recipients should check with the producers of this document if they have reason to believe any part is not correct or is now out of date.
General requirements
The following requirements apply to:
- vehicles constructed solely to carry 8 or fewer seated passengers (excluding the driver) and their effects
- dual purpose vehicles
In simple terms, dual purpose vehicles are those with an unladen weight not exceeding 2040kg constructed or adapted to carry both passengers and goods, but there are also other detailed conditions set out in Regulation 3 of The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986.
Minimum requirement for forward-facing seats
| Passenger | Belts in vehicle first used before 1/1/1965 | Belts in vehicle first used 1/1/1965 to 31/3/1981 | Belts in vehicle first used 1/4/1981 to 31/3/1987 | Belts in vehicle first used on or after 1/4/1987 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | No belt required, although we would always recommend that a belt is fitted | 2 point belt (diagonal body restraining | 3 point belt (lap and diagonal) | 3 point belt (lap and diagonal) |
| Front passenger (furthest from the driver) | No belt required, although we would always recommend that a belt is fitted | 2 point belt (diagonal body restraining | 3 point belt (lap and diagonal) | 3 point belt (lap and diagonal) |
| Other front passengers | No belt required, although we would always recommend that a belt is fitted | No belt required, although we would always recommend that a belt is fitted | No belt required, although we would always recommend that a belt is fitted | 3 point belt (lap and diagonal) or 2 point belt (lap) |
| Rear (vehicle with up to 2 rear seats) | No belt required, although we would always recommend that a belt is fitted | No belt required, although we would always recommend that a belt is fitted | No belt required, although we would always recommend that a belt is fitted | Either a 3 point inertia reel belt on one seat or a belt on each seat, being either a 3 point belt, 2 point (lap) belt, disabled person’s belt, or child restraint belt |
| Rear (vehicle with more than 2 rear seats) | No belt required, although we would always recommend that a belt is fitted | No belt required, although we would always recommend that a belt is fitted | No belt required, although we would always recommend that a belt is fitted | Either a 3 point inertia reel belt on an outer seat and a 2 point (lap), 3 point belt, disabled person’s belt or child restraint belt for at least one other seat OR a 3 point belt for one seat and either a child restraint or disabled persons belt for at least one other seat OR a belt on each seat, being either a 3 point belt, 2 point (lap) belt, disabled person’s belt or child restraint belt |
Seat belt standards
In general, if a vehicle is required to have a seat belt, then all seat belts which are fitted must meet either the British or European Standards, or equivalents, set out in Regulation 47 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. They must be approved for use in the relevant type of vehicle and must display an approval mark - this will normally be an ‘e’ or ‘E’ followed by a number, or a BS ‘kitemark’.
Seat belt anchorage standards
Vehicles first used before 1/4/82
The anchorage points must be designed to hold the seat belts securely in position on the vehicle.
Vehicles first used on or after 1/4/82
The anchorages must comply with European Directives 76/115/EEC or 81/575/EEC or 82/318/EEC or 90/629/EEC or 96/38/EC or UNECE Regulations 14 or 14.01 or 14.02 or 14.03.
You should also be aware that Regulation 100 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 requires:
- a motor vehicle, and all its parts and accessories
- the number of passengers carried, and the manner in which any passengers are carried in or on a vehicle
- the weight, distribution, packing and adjustment of the load of a vehicle
to be at all times such that no danger is caused, or is likely to be caused, to any person in or on a vehicle or on a road.
Further to this, Section 40a of The Road Traffic Act 1988 (as amended by Section 8 of the Road Traffic Act 1991) Part II, Using a Vehicle in a Dangerous Condition, states that:
A person is guilty of an offence if he uses,or causes or permits another to use, a motor vehicle or trailer on a road when:
(a) the condition of the motor vehicle or trailer, or of its accessories or equipment, or
(b) the purpose for which it is used, or
(c) the number of passengers carried by it, or the manner in which they are carried, or
(d) the weight, position or distribution of its load, or the manner in which it is secured
is such that the use of the motor vehicle or trailer involves a danger of injury to any person.
Order copies of regulations
Consolidated versions of National regulations can be found in Sweet and Maxwell’s Encyclopaedia of Road Traffic Law and Practice (Construction and Use) which should be available at most main reference libraries.
Copies of National regulations can also be purchased from:
TSO Orders / Post Cash Department,
PO Box 29,
Norwich,
NR3 1GN
Telephone: 0870 600 5522
email: customer.services@tso.co.uk
website: http://www.tso.co.uk
Copies of European Directives may be downloaded free of charge from the European Commission website.
Copies of UNECE Regulations may be downloaded free of charge from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe website.
Legal information
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