Seat Belts

[Newbiedriver]

A question regarding seatbelts.

If you’re operating a 16 seater minibus which is fitted with seat belts on a registered service under an ‘O’ licence, are the passengers required to wear seat belts?

Also, what happens if a local authority is operating a free bus service under s19 open to the general public that is fitted with seat belts. Are the passengers required to wear them?

I can’t seem to find a definite answer.

Many thanks

 

[Stan Drews]

My understanding is that you are required to wear a seatbelt if you are sitting on any seat that is fitted with them, regardless of the vehicle type. It can vary as to who is liable for any fine/prosecution should someone not be wearing one, but that doesn’t alter the fact they should be worn.

 

[JKP]

I agree. Where the child is under 14, it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure a seat belt is being worn. For over 14 and adults the driver or operator should advise passengers to wear the seat belt provided.
This can be done verbally or through notices or pictograms on the vehicle.

You may wish to look at Croner. Unfortunately I cannot give you a link.

 

[Newbiedriver]

I agree. Where the child is under 14, it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure a seat belt is being worn. For over 14 and adults the driver or operator should advise passengers to wear the seat belt provided.
This can be done verbally or through notices or pictograms on the vehicle.

You may wish to look at Croner. Unfortunately I cannot give you a link.

Sorry what’s Croner?

 

[JKP]

Sorry what’s Croner?

Croner provides advice on HR, employment and health and safety legislation, including transport. I knew it in paper form, but it is now available online. You will need to search for Croner seat belts to bring up the relevant pages.

 

[Simon75]

My understanding is that you are required to wear a seatbelt if you are sitting on any seat that is fitted with them, regardless of the vehicle type. It can vary as to who is liable for any fine/prosecution should someone not be wearing one, but that doesn’t alter the fact they should be worn.

One operator near me uses a school bus with seat belts between school runs, yet no one uses them, or get told by driver to use them

 

[Dwarfer1979]

One operator near me uses a school bus with seat belts between school runs, yet no one uses them, or get told by driver to use them

I think buses used on Local service buses are excluded from the requirement to wear as all the getting on and off was deemed unrealistic though I am not clear whether there are specific exclusions to this (such as coach type services operated as registered bus services but with high speed elements such as motorway/dual-carriageway running). On PSVs the driver doesn't need to tell you specifically as long as there are signs up in the bus telling you to wear them (those pictographs being sufficient) and then it is the adult passengers responsibility so it is nothing to do with the driver.