Seat belts in minibuses, coaches and other buses
Published 1 May 2010
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This document provides general guidance and advice on the legislative requirements in Great Britain relating to seat belts in minibuses, coaches and other buses used on the road. These requirements are set out in full in regulations 46, 47 and 48A of The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986 No. 1078).
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should check with the producers of this document if they have reason to believe any part is not correct or is now out of date.
Minibuses
Vehicles constructed or adapted to carry more than 8 but not more than 16 seated passengers, excluding the driver.
| Belts in vehicle first used: | before 1/4/1982 if over 2540kg or first used before 1/1/65 | before 1/4/1982 in other case | 1/4/1982 to 30/9/1988 | 1/10/1988 to 30/9/2001 | from 1/10/2001 (except vehicles designed for urban use with standing passengers) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | A | C | C | D | F |
| Front passenger (furthest from the driver) | B | C | C | D | F |
| Other front passenger | B | B | B | E | F |
| Rear passenger | B | B | B | B | F |
Key
A - No belt required.
B - No belt required unless there are 3 or more children on an organised trip, in which case a forward facing seat with a minimum of a lap belt must be provided for each child carried.
C - In vehicles with unladen weight of 2540kg or less and not capable of carrying more than 12 passengers - 3 point belt (lap & diagonal) or harness belt on forward facing seats. In vehicles with unladen weight of more than 2540kg orvehicles capable of carrying more than 12 passengers - no belt required unless there are 3 or more children on an organised trip, in which case a forward facing passenger seat with a minimum of a lap belt must be provided for each child carried.
D - In vehicles with a gross weight of 3,500kg or less - 3 point belt (lap and diagonal) or harness belt in forward facing seats. In vehicles with a gross weight of more than 3500kg - no belt required unless there are 3 or more children on an organised trip, in which case a forward facing passenger seat with a minimum of a lap belt must be provided for each child carried.
E - In vehicles with a gross weight of 3500kg or less - 2 point belt (lap) or 3 point belt (lap & diagonal) in forward facing seats. In vehicles with a gross weight of more than 3500kg - no belt required unless there are 3 or more children on an organised trip, in which case a forward facing passenger seat with a minimum of a lap belt must be provided for each child carried.
F - In vehicles with a gross weight of 3500kg or less – inertia reel 3 point belts in forward facing seats and inertia reel 3 point belts or retractable lap belts in rearward facing seats. In vehicles with a gross weight of more than 3500kg – inertia reel 3 point belts or retractable lap belt in forward and rearward facing seats.
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 & 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
| Anchorage detail | Standards |
|---|---|
| All anchorages in: Minibuses first used before 31/3/1982 capable of carrying not more than 12 passengers | The anchorage points must be designed to hold the seat belts securely in position on the vehicle. |
| Anchorages fitted before 1/10/2001 in: Minibuses first used between 1/4/1982 and 30/9/1988 capable of carrying not more than 12 passengers; and Minibuses first used between 1/10/1988 and 30/9/2001 with a gross weight of 3500kg or less. Anchorages fitted on or after 1/10/2001 in: Minibuses first used on or after 1/4/1982 but before 1/10/2001 | 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 |
| All anchorages in: Minibuses first used on or after 1/10/2001 | The anchorages must comply with European Directive 96/38/EC or UNECE Regulations 14.04 or 14.05 |
Coaches
Vehicles constructed or adapted to carry more than 16 seated passengers, in addition to the driver, which have a gross weight of more than 7.5 tonnes and a maximum speed exceeding 60mph.
| Belts in vehicle first used: | before 1/10/1988 | 1/10/1988 to 30/9/2001 | from 1/10/2001 (except vehicles designed for urban use with standing passengers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | A | C | D |
| Front passengers | B | C | D |
| Rear passengers in exposed seats [footnote 1] | B | C | D |
| Other rear passengers | B | B | D |
Key:
A - No belt required
B - No belt required unless passengers are children on an organised trip, in which case a forward facing seat with a minimum of a lap belt must be provided for each child carried
C - 2 point belt (lap) or 3 point belt (lap & diagonal) on forward facing seats
D - Inertia reel 3 point belt or retractable lap belt in all forward and rearward facing seats
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 & 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
| Anchorage details | Standards |
|---|---|
| Coaches first used before 1/10/1988 | The anchorage points must be designed to hold the seat belts securely to the vehicle - Regulation 100 of The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 (as amended). However, where they have been installed after 10/2/1997 in vehicles intended to take groups of 3 or more children on organised trips, or in other cases where they are installed after 1/10/2001, they must meet the requirements shown in the box immediately below |
| Coaches first used between 1/10/1988 and 30/9/2001 | 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. Anchorages may only comply with item 6 in the table to Regulation 46 of The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 (as amended) if they were installed before 1 October 2001 |
| Coaches first used on or after 1/10/2001 | The anchorages must comply with European Directive 96/38/EC or UNECE Regulations 14.04 or 14.05. |
Other types of bus
Except for buses designed for urban use with standing passengers, seat belts must be fitted as follows in buses which are not minibuses or coaches:
| Belts in vehicle first used: | on or after 1/10/2001 |
|---|---|
| Driver | A |
| Front passengers | A |
| Rear passengers in exposed seats [footnote 2] | A |
| Other rear passenger | A |
Key:
A - In vehicles with a gross weight of 3500kg or less – inertia reel 3 point belt in forward facing seats and inertia reel 3 point belts or retractable lap belts in rearward facing seats.
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
| Anchorage details | Standards |
|---|---|
| Anchorages fitted before 1/10/2001 in: Buses first used before 1/10/2001 | The anchorage points must be designed to hold the seat belts securely to the vehicle - Regulation 100 of The Road Vehicles Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 (as amended) |
| Anchorages fitted on or after 1/10/2001 in: Buses first used on or after 1/4/1982 but before 1/10/1988 | 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 | |
| All anchorages in: Buses first used on or after 1/10/2001 | The anchorages must comply with European Directive 96/38/EC or UNECE Regulations 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 to this, Section 40aof 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.
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.
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