Carrying 4 in the back

[Capra]

Now and again we're asked to pick up family, this time it's 2 adults and 3 children. I've already said I struggle to carry 4, let alone 5. Legally where do I stand? Also one child will not be wearing a belt.

 

[A.J.]

You don't. It is a five seater !!

 

[Rory]

Also one child will not be wearing a belt.

That's not allowed. And kids below a certain size have to be in the relevant type of child seat. You can only get two in the back of many cars and there's no room for anyone else.

 

[Wighty]

No Insurance cover if you do it ! If you have an accident and the insecure weight of 20-40kg (a child) flies through the air and snaps the neck of the front seat passenger before going through the windscreen there would be some explaining to do .

 

[EmilysDad]

You could always buy a R Class It's not often I use its 6 seats but they do come in handy every now & then.

 

[mioba]

How many seat belts you got in the back? that will answer your question.
Clunk click every trip.

 

[Frontstep]

Legalities aside who wants to throw a child around your car, you just couldn't live with yourself, no belt no child.

 

[LostKiwi]

You must legally have one seat and seatbrls for each passenger. Children have specific rules regarding what seat they require.

 

[flowrider]

Now and again we're asked to pick up family, this time it's 2 adults and 3 children. I've already said I struggle to carry 4, let alone 5. Legally where do I stand? Also one child will not be wearing a belt.

As said, legally you don't have a leg to stand on. Morally you don't have a leg to stand on. Just don't do it is my advice.

 

[Capra]

Cheers all, just said I couldn't help out.

 

[Craiglxviii]

You can’t put child seats in the front at all if rear facing, and if front facing only if there is a passenger airbag cutoff. In an MB that is only activated with an MB child seat transponder.

Glad to see you made the sensible choice!

 

[the director]

You could always buy a R Class It's not often I use its 6 seats but they do come in handy every now & then.

Or 7 if you’ve got the right R Class!!!!

 

[EmilysDad]

Or 7 if you’ve got the right R Class!!!!

I did buy the right R Class .... I like the middle row arm rest rather than the half seat .... and there's usually just 2 of us & a mutt.

 

[EmilysDad]

.... and if front facing only if there is a passenger airbag cutoff......

I don't think that's correct ..... AIUI The switch or transponder is to switch the airbag off for rear facing seats

 

[EmilysDad]

https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules

It just mentions cut off switches etc for REAR facing seats.

 

[Craiglxviii]

I don't think that's correct ..... AIUI The switch or transponder is to switch the airbag off for rear facing seats

Nope, it’s for front seats at least in the manuals for my three. Specifically, only MB child seats can be used in the front. There is no PAB cutoff switch as per VAG cars.

 

[EmilysDad]

Nope, it’s for front seats at least in the manuals for my three. Specifically, only MB child seats can be used in the front. There is no PAB cutoff switch as per VAG cars.

As per my link you're wrong .... you switch off airbags for rear facing seats

 

[EmilysDad]

http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing-using/faqs/#faq7

... no mention of requiring the airbag to be 'off'

 

[Ken_R]

Strictly speaking, the last time I looked, Seatbelt Legislation only applied to the 'occupants of forward facing seats'. Think in terms of the Land Rover/Austin Gypsy with the sideways facing seating in the rear area.

Also consider, a double manned HGV with a bunk. There is no requirement that the 'second' driver needs to remain in the passenger seat. If they want to 'recline' on the bunk, then that is permitted.

And then we have the Mobile Home brigade which, at the higher end of the market, have 'rotational' seating. Whereby the front seat passenger, (but hopefully, not the driver) would rotate the seat to converse with other persons aboard. Would that person still need to wear a seat belt? It's argumentative but not definitive.

The bottom line is that, if the vehicle was an Estate, then you could 'shove' one of the 'brats', adult or otherwise, into the 'cargo' area and still possibly be compliant.

However, as to what the OP asked about, no chance that it would be Legal.

 

[LostKiwi]

Strictly speaking, the last time I looked, Seatbelt Legislation only applied to the 'occupants of forward facing seats'. Think in terms of the Land Rover/Austin Gypsy with the sideways facing seating in the rear area.

Correct. Using sideways facing seats with a seatbelt is more dangerous than no seatbelt at all. The law recognises this and accepts sideways seats do not require belts.

The bottom line is that, if the vehicle was an Estate, then you could 'shove' one of the 'brats', adult or otherwise, into the 'cargo' area and still possibly be compliant.

Or get a 7 seater estate like our 210