Seat belts in goods vehicles
Published 1 May 2010
© Crown copyright 2010
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/seat-belts-in-goods-vehicles/seat-belts-in-goods-vehicles
This document provides general guidance and advice on the legislative requirements in Great Britain relating to seat belts in goods 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 been inspected under individual 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should check with the producers of this document if they have reason to believe any part is not correct or is now out of date.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
Minimum requirements for forward facing seats
| Type of passenger | Belts in vehicle first used before 1/4/1967 | Belts in vehicle first used 1/4/1967 to 31/3/1980 | Belts in vehicle first used 1/4/1980 to 31/3/1981 | Belts in vehicle first used 1/4/1981 to 31/3/1987 | Belts in vehicle first used 1/4/1987 to 30/9/2001 | Belts in vehicle first used from 1/10/2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | A | B | C | D | D | F |
| Front passenger (furthest from the driver) | A | B | C | D | D | G |
| Other front passengers | A | A | A | A | E | H |
| Rear passenger | A | A | A | A | A | A |
Key
A - No belt required
B - In vehicles with unladen weight not exceeding 1525kg - 2 point belt (diagonal body restraining). In vehicles with unladen weight exceeding 1525kg - no belt required
C - In vehicles with a maximum gross weight not exceeding 3500kg - 2 point belt (diagonal body restraining). In vehicles with a maximum gross weight exceeding 3500kg - no belt required
D - In vehicles with a maximum gross weight not exceeding 3500kg - 3 point belt (lap and diagonal). In vehicles with a maximum gross weight exceeding 3500kg - no belt required
E - In vehicles with a maximum gross weight not exceeding 3500kg - 3 point belt, lap belt or disabled person’s belt. In vehicles with a maximum gross weight exceeding 3500kg - no belt required
F - In vehicles with a maximum gross weight not exceeding 3500kg – 3 point belt (lap and diagonal). In vehicles with a maximum gross weight exceeding 3500kg – 3 point belt (lap and diagonal) or lap belt
G - In vehicles with a maximum gross weightnot exceeding 3500kg - 3 point belt (lap and diagonal). In vehicles with a maximum gross weight exceeding 3500kg – 3 point belt (lap and diagonal), lap belt or disabled person’s belt
H - 3 point belt (lap and diagonal), lap belt or disabled person’s belt
Seat belt standards
In general, if a vehicle is required to have a seat belt, then allseat belts which are fitted must meet either the British or European Standards, or equivalents, set out in Regulation 47 of The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 They must be correctly installed, in good working order 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
| Vehicle weight | Instruction |
|---|---|
| Vehicles up to 3,500kg maximum gross weight first used on or after 1/4/1982. | 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 or 14.04 or 14.05. |
| Vehicles over 3500kg maximum gross weight first used on or after 1/10/1988 but before 1/10/2001. | Any anchorage points must be designed to hold the seat belts securely in position on the vehicle. |
| Vehicles over 3500kg maximum gross weight first used on or after 1/4/2001. | The anchorages must comply with European Directive 96/38 or UNECE Regulation 14.04 or 14.05. |
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; and
- 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 information
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
Fax: 0870 600 5533
Email: customer.services@tso.co.uk
Website: 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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