Passengers in the back of campervan??

cerabal

Hi everyone!! I bought a campervan the other day(a vw) and i want to travel around Europe with my girlfrind an two of my friends. Its a small van as you might know so it will be a tight fit. I was wondering about the rules for carring passengers, seatbelt, seats etc... Cant find any thing on the internet with rules or anything!!! Thanks alot!!

demoreino

Hi Cerabal,
I may be wrong but I think legally if there is seatbelts fitted they must be used at all times.
As far as I know, I think I read it on here actually that the Gardai are not certain on the law . Some say if there is no belts fitted you are ok.
HOWEVER, the insurance is a totally differant matter. It states clearly that anyone travelling in the vehicle must be seat belted at all times and failure to do so could result in your insurance been void in the event of an accident.
Enjoy your travels, it sounds like fun.
Kevin www.iwmotorhomes.ie

cerabal

Hi kevin! Yea i got the feeling it was a bit of a grey area. Best thing to do is maybe put in seatbelts just on the normal seats where the table and chairs are an hope for the best. Its to small to put in two car seats. Thanks for your help and dont worry we'll be sure to have fun!

Buford T Justice

cerabal wrote: »

Hi kevin! Yea i got the feeling it was a bit of a grey area. Best thing to do is maybe put in seatbelts just on the normal seats where the table and chairs are an hope for the best. Its to small to put in two car seats. Thanks for your help and dont worry we'll be sure to have fun!

Have a look at my camper conversion in my Sig if you want. I have lap belts fitted to sideways seats in my bus. When the law stopped me they just asked me if the kids in the carseats fitted to them were wearing seatbetls! Mimd you be did seem a bit bamboozled by the whole notion of a van that's not a van anymore tho.

WildWater

Buford T Justice wrote: »

When the law stopped me...

I just said "I'm the law around these here parts.":D

Buford T Justice

WildWater wrote: »

Buford T Justice wrote: »

When the law stopped me...

I just said "I'm the law around these here parts.":D

Thanks for that. I was leaving Mullingar earlier heading to Donegal with a load and I read that before I left. Made me laugh all the way to Sligo. Made my day did that.

kelbal

+1 on demoreino's comment. Dolmen insurance told me that to be covered anyone sitting in the back must have properly fitted seatbelts - 3 point forward facing and lap belts sufficient for rear facing

JohnnyBananas

Under Irish Law, Insurance companies theoretically do not have to pay out for injury to what are known as “Excepted Persons”.

An Excepted Person is either

1. A passenger who is in the vehicle but is not sitting on a fixed seat. (eg this includes a child sitting in an open boot)
2. A passenger within a trailer attachment, whether sitting on a fixed seat or not. (caravan owners take note)

In theory, if you carry an excepted person you will be personally liable for any injury caused to them. This is a textbook answer. I am not fully aware of how it works out in reality. But to be safe, I simply wouldn’t allow conditions for an excepted person to be in the vehicle.

I hope this helps.

Dibble

Hi Cerabal, I drive a VW T25 and had 3-point belts fitted in the back when I bought it. If you're thinking of getting them fitted, give the lads in Cosy Classics a buzz for advice, price, etc.

And congrats on your new purchase!

Irishgoatman

JohnnyBananas wrote: »

Under Irish Law, Insurance companies theoretically do not have to pay out for injury to what are known as “Excepted Persons”.

An Excepted Person is either

1. A passenger who is in the vehicle but is not sitting on a fixed seat. (eg this includes a child sitting in an open boot)
2. A passenger within a trailer attachment, whether sitting on a fixed seat or not. (caravan owners take note)

In theory, if you carry an excepted person you will be personally liable for any injury caused to them. This is a textbook answer. I am not fully aware of how it works out in reality. But to be safe, I simply wouldn’t allow conditions for an excepted person to be in the vehicle.

I hope this helps.

I would have thought that to carry anyone as in your notes 1 & 2 would be illegal as well as plain daft.
My 'van has bench seats and I would never allow anyone to travel in the back.
(With the execption of my cat, who often travels with me:)).