Seatbelt Question

AltAccount

Quick question for the Gardai among ye...


I'm about to take delivery of a classic car. It's from 1973 and has no rear seatbelts. It has front 'belts. No airbags obviously.

I have a two year old who I'll have to bring around occasionally.


AFAIK it's legal to not wear a seatbelt in a car which didn't come fitted with seatbelts from factory.


How legal is it to have the child seat in the front seat, if there are no seatbelts in the rear and no airbags?

iceage

If the front seat belts are 3 point inertia seatbelts ie. they reel back, then you can carry a child up to 3 years of age(maximum weight of 36Kg) in a rearward facing baby seat only.

If the front seat belts are only lap belts, as in some vintage sports cars do not attempt to fit any type of child seat, it is not safe.

Most cars and this include most if not all vintage cars can have after market 3 point seatbelts fitted to the rear seats.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/roads_and_safety/seatbelts_when_motoring_in_ireland.html

AltAccount

The seatbelts are 3-point belts (not lap), for the front only.

I don't see the rearward requirement stated in that link. Where did you get that from?


Do you know if it's ok to have the child seat in the front instead of the rear, where there are no rear 'belts?

iceage

As a retail manager of a motor accessory store, Child safety was a pet subject of mine. The only child seat that is safe to use in the front seat of any car for a child under the age of 3 is a rearward facing child seat. The problem you will find though that you will rarely find a rearward facing child seat able to accommodate a 3 year old! In my book any other type of child seat is to be fitted on the rear seats only, also placing a child under 3 years of age in a front facing child seat in the front seat is asking for trouble although I have seen this in vans and pick ups occasionally in the past.

Enquire with your garage about having belts fitted to the rear of the car it really is the safest solution if you plan to carry a child in said car. Better to be safe than sorry.

AltAccount

Why would a child be safer in the back than the front?

iceage

Fair point, I used to believe that anybody was safer in the back seat but the last two roll overs I'm aware off in the last few months here and in the UK killed all the occupants of the rear seats including both adults and kids.

Question is do you have a child seat? and if so are you willing to have it correctly fitted to the vintage? If not, use a car that will take the baby seat.

Curious now.. What make and model is the vintage?

AltAccount

iceage wrote: »

Question is do you have a child seat? and if so are you willing to have it correctly fitted to the vintage?

Yes, several. Yes, of course.

iceage wrote: »

Curious now.. What make and model is the vintage?

1973 Lancia Fulvia

Esel

Do you have another, modern car? If so, use this when you need to transport the child. If you don't - get one.

Sorry for being blunt, but the child is depending on you to keep it safe.

Afaik, most insurance companies will not insure a vintage car as your main vehicle.

Tbh, you should be planning to use the Lancia for your pleasure only (obviously including any adult(s) who can make an informed decision regarding their personal safety).

Lastly, I do realise I am not addressing the question you asked in your OP. Please don't rip me a new one for that!