Seatbelts

[Paul In Ireland]

What are the rules for you guys back home?

Here, the vehicle doesn't need them retrofitted if it never had them fitted in the first place. I am going to source some for my ute in a nice colour to suit but it is entirely up to me.

Can you register without belts? If you do have to fit, can you get by on lap belts or do they have to be shoulder belts where required.


Paul.

[Rusty_T]

 
Paul,
If the vehicle wasn't fitted with them in the first place (When it was built) then there is no requrement to fit them. If, however they have been fitted at some stage, I believe they can't be removed.
Rusty

[mikey]

Just to add a bit more to this, hope not to get too far off track Paul.

If the vehicle was not originally fitted with belts and they get put in at some stage and the cops bust you for not wearing them then expect to get a fine. It is no good saying "but they never had them in the first place" It just doesn't cut it.

Being in a car with no belts feels very, very wrong and really uneasy. (for me anyway)

Cheers M

[mcl1959]

In Victoria at least, all modified vehicles must have seat belts to pass engineering requirements - only stockies are exempt from the seat belt rule.

Ken

[weddo]

We have a modified FC which we bought from Mnt Gambier early this year, 186, 4 speed, bucket seats etc and no seat belts. When we had it inspected to change over from the SA registration to Tassie rego I asked the guy if I had to install seat belts. his answer was "don't ruin a good car, they didn't come out with belts and you don't have to install them"  but I'm a bit like mikey, it does feel wrong.

regards Weddo

[NO NAME]

when we were kids we had a HR with no back seat belts, later my mum bought a datsun 1200 with seatbelts, we thought we were so hi tech but then she married a guy with a EH with no seat belts again but by then the seat belt novelty wore off so we didnt care ifthere were no seatbelts, now people think you are nuts driving without srs and abs but we lived without seatbelts all through our child hood.
 I understand seat belts here in nsw are required when a larger motor is fitted to a car that didnt have them, if you have two bench seats and you fit 4 seatbelts your car gets registered as a 4 seater. if you fit 5 its a 5 seater etc.
 its different with p platers i beleive, they can not drive a car without a seatbelt. its a law not rally written anywere but p platers seam to get done for it by surprise.
 I had a big accident in the FC and none of the silly drunks in the car had put there seatbelt on, no one moved but my pup face planted the firewall. the accident was big enough to spin the other car almost 360 degrees.
 seatbelts arent important, if you get thrown into the back of a paddywagon you will be sitting in a fibreglass box at the back with just a panel of fibreglass between you and what ever big mack track may be roaring up behind, they always go for a hoon through roundabouts and stuff while the person in the back slides about in the smooth fibreglass box.
 a good vynil angled seat in a fc and a floor mat or carpet to grip on is still much safer than a passenger in a paddywagon and paddywagons are driven by police who know all about keeping everyone safe, if seat belts were necassary paddy wagons would have them, so would smaller busses and motor bikes.
 seatbelts ofcourse have a advantage, especailly without a collapsible colum and no crash pad so if you have use em but i wouldnt fit them to a original car with no seatbelts unless your state requires it.

[zulu]

I have to agree with FCCOOL, I would not fit them to a car that has not had them, in fact, I know of cases where they have been removed & holes welded up
Gary

[Just40]

they were in the wagon when i got it so i keep them,but i had to find some better ones at the wrecker but the sedan has not got them and i dont have a probs in driving it,but i try not to have my daughter in that cat too often and the wagon i am doing now will not have them.                                                 i also remember driving around with mum and dad (6 kids) in a wagon and no belts,to me they dont look right with belts,but that just me.

[FC_fer_me]

Just an xtra to Ken's note regarding regs in Victoria, as Ken said standard vehicles dont require seat belts if they have never been fitted, but this only applies if the car is registered (ie. transferring from one state to another) If the car is unregistered and you are applying to have it registered then seatbelts are a requirement for the RWC. Hope this helps, Cheers David

[reddo]

Hi All

All of what has been said is correct.
If the car wasnt offered new with the belts you dont have to retro fit them (NSW).
If they are fitted in the car you must wear them... all states


Something else to stick in the memory banks when talking seat belts.
 I had a yarn to one of the mechanical engineers who is RTA accredited for inspecting modifications to cars , hot rods etc.
I was always under the impression that if are car was repowered with a larger motor  etc you where required to fit retractable belts . He stated that lap sash is fine with him.
To me retractables are a better option . when fitted properly,  they should retract fully and not hang in the door opening ready to stuff your door when ya shut it like the lap sash belt buckle quite often does if you arent carefull.


Reddo