motorhome regulations for Europe
 

My husband and I and our kids are hoping to use our cousins motorhome in Europe to travel but just heard that there might be an issue with seatbelts. In Canada you can put more people than seat belts in the motorhome as long as the seatbelts available are being used. But we have just heard that that might not be the case for Europe. Does anyone know? Or know of a website or a place to contact? I've tried just googling it but can't seem to find out the actual law. We will be in the UK as well as a Holland, Germany, Italy, Hungary and France. Any suggestions? There will be 2 adults and 4 small children if that makes a difference.

I should note that the motorhome we have available to use only has 4 seatbelts. Thanks for the help!

Well, there is this for the UK:
http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/magazi...best-practise/

But why would you not want ALL your kids to be belted in? Is one more expendable than the others?

Seat belts are compulsory for every passenger in the UK and I imagine this is the case in all EU countries. You will be breaking the law if you do not comply and this is one traffic law that is rigidly enforced, at least in the UK. In the case of a parent not ensuring that a child is using a seatbelt I would expect ( and hope) that the penalties would be the maximum allowed. A further consideration is that, in the event of an accident, the absence of sufficient seatbelts could invalidate the insurance cover..

Further research says that all passengers must wear seat belts in Ontario, at least. I guess the OP must live in a different province.

This link should answer your question: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_s...s/index_en.htm

<i>Seat belts are the easiest and cheapest way to avoid injury in a crash. They do not require any special technology and are fitted in all cars. Since 2006, wearing seatbelts is compulsory in all vehicles throughout the EU.

Under EU law, drivers and passengers must wear a seat belt in any seat fitted with one.

...

Children

- children under 1.35 m tall, or travelling in cars/lorries fitted with safety devices, must use an approved device for their size.
- taller children may use an adult seat belt.
- rear-facing child restraints are no longer allowed on front passenger seats unless the airbag has been deactivated.
</i>

Hmm. Seems the OP must live in Nunavut. According to Woodalls, which should be a reliable source of RV info, all passengers are required to wear seat belts in all other Canadian provinces.

http://www.woodalls.com/articledetai...icleID=2377513

It does make sense that you can't buckle up more people than you have seat belts for but if you have children, they all have to be buckled up. That's the EU law on the matter.

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-06-583_el.htm

<b>The latest European Directive[1] on the compulsory use of seat belts has to be incorporated into law in the Member States by 9 May 2006. Under the existing European legislation it was compulsory to use seat belts in vehicles below 3.5 tonnes fitted with restraints. This obligation has now been extended to all categories of vehicles. The Directive also requires the use of restraint systems specially adapted for children.</b>

I would also suggest insurance will be a problem too. Unless you have a driving licence from the same country as the vehicle is registered.

@ribeirasacra: explain.

I am absolutely gobsmacked that you would, apparently happily, let a couple of you bounce around unrestrained. Imagine the catastrophe if you are involved in a head on, or just as bit if it tips over.

Can I suggest that you should be one of those who does without a seat belt? I know my post is harsh, but I'm amazed and angry.

sparkchaser - normally in Europe insurance only covers national driving licences. Our car is insured for any driver possessing a Dutch licence, but is not covered for say a British or German driver. I had to get special permission from our insurers for my DIL, who at the time held a German licence, to drive our car.

British insurance is even stricter, and normally only named drivers are covered.

If this camper is being driven on Canadian licences, but is registered, and insured in a European country then the owner must notify their insurance company, and may have to pay an extra premium to cover it.
Since the vehicle doesn't have sufficient seat belts the question is moot.

That's interesting. I'm glad you mentioned that so I can go talk to my insurance agent. I kinda figured that as long as the car was insured for other drives then if the license was valid then you were good. Thanks. :D

Perhaps you could look into having the motor home fitted with additional seatbelts.

sparkchaser always read the small print. Besides if this camper is UK registered and insured that there is a good chance the insurance period in mainland Europe is limited on cover and/or time.
Dreaming extra seatbelts cannot be fitted if there are no anchorage points to take the loads.

Wow. Harsh is right. I regret asking. Of course I want my kids seatbelted in. Sheesh.

If you want your kids belted in, why on earth are you asking if you can legally drive a motorhome that doesn't have enough belts for all your kids?

Maybe Sarasota was planning to be unbelted.

Only four belts and four small children - who would be driving?

Rib- do you already know that there aren't anchorage points? I don't know one way or the other, but have read that it is possible to retrofit older vehicles with belts, which was why I suggested she look into it. I still think its worth looking into, if it's not possible than Sara is back where she started, it if it possible then she has a solution. But I would defer to someone with a greater knowledge of seatbelts and/or motor homes.

Where is this cousin's motorhome? UK? Europe? Are we talking about a real RV, or a van. The only way I can see this is if there are just seat belts on the driver and passenger and then two captain's chairs. No other seats and you might camp in the back.
Our van that was a bit like this had a fold down bench seat--but it had seat belts.
I'd love to know the configuration of this vehicle--and where the kids would be seated when it is in motion. If a real RV style, SURELY not playing on the floor.
I do find this question troubling from many points of view.

I can only presume Sarasota meant she wanted the kids to be belted in, but the motorhome just didn't have enough belts, so that was too bad, but necessary, but not what she wanted. Because any motorhome with belts would have them in the front seats, for sure, there would never be a belt for passengers and not the driver.

I'll admit I cannot be synpathetic to the inquiry, either, as it clearly was with the intent of driving around with some people without seatbelts.

Well there is no way you can have passengers without seats. And apparently there are enough seats bu some don;t have seat blets since it is a very old vehicle (?).

In any case they would have to upgrade for enough seats and belts for the total number of people.

Well, since the OP is already not happy with the comments, let me add that these are 4 'small' children, which to me means that a few may be too small/light/short for seatbelts and will require car seats. Car seats need seat belts, so I cannot imagine driving around Europe in a van where everyone is not fastened in somehow.

I by no means was meaning any sort of incompetence as a parent by asking this question. I know nothing of motorhomes other than what friends of mine who own one here in Canada have told me and that is that they are looked at like a bus by the insurance. So only the seatbelts in the motorhome need to be used but if there are more people they aren't required. So on a bus, the driver must wear his but no one else. I would put my kids on a bus without seatbelts so I was just assuming this being the same. You walk around a bus, go to the bathroom etc but mainly stay seated. I would never drive in a car without seatbelts but the question was with the mindset of the motorhome being a bus. And there are no seatbelts on buses so I just (naively) asked if it was the same in Europe.

But as luck would have it there are 2 more belts that can be installed so we can have 6 so no problems in the end. Thanks for the people who took the time to answer my question. But to the harshness, seriously?!? I realize my question was worded poorly but why the hate?

Words. They have meanings.

Glad you got it sorted out.

Hate is a strong word, I don't hate you. Yes, your post was very poorly worded.

I'm glad you sorted it out and that you can use the motorbike for your trip. I hope you'll come back with other questions about your trip.

Even long distance buses in Europe have seatbelts, which must be used. The only buses without seat belts are local urban buses.
Lets hope you manage to obtain insurance coveage!

With regard to buses / vans there are indeed some significant safety culture differences on either side of the Atlantic. We (UK residents) were shocked earlier this year to be collected for an all-day sightseeing tour in Alaska in a 12-seater mini-bus that had no passenger seatbelts. This vehicle would be illegal in the UK/Europe. I did feel very uncomfortable about the consequences of an accident or an emergency stop, but the other people on the tour (US/Canadian) - presumably used to this practise - were unconcerned.