Taxi Driver Online

Seat belts to be worn by children in the rear of a vehicle.

For a child of any particular height and weight travelling in the rear of a particular vehicle, the description of seat belt to be worn by him is:

(1) if he is a small child and the vehicle is a relevant vehicle, a child restraint of a description specified in heads (a) or (b) below;

(2) if he is a small child and the vehicle is not a relevant vehicle, a child restraint of a description specified in head (a) below;

(3) if he is a large child, a child restraint of a description specified in head (a) below or an adult belt.

The descriptions of seat belt are:

(a) a child restraint with the required marking if the marking indicates that it is suitable for his weight and either indicates that it is suitable for his height or contains no indication as respects height; and

(b) a child restraint which would meet the corresponding requirements of the law of another member state were it to be worn by that child when travelling in that vehicle in that state.

The following classes of vehicles are exempt from the prohibition on carrying children not wearing seatbelts in the rear of a vehicle:

(i) vehicles which are neither motor cars nor passenger cars;

(ii) licensed taxis and licensed hire cars in which, in each case, the rear seats are separated from the driver by a fixed partition.

1 For the meaning of ‘child’ see para 403 note 8 ante.
2 Ie the description of seat belt prescribed for the purposes of the Road Traffic Act 1988 s 15(3) (see para 404 ante): Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 1993, SI 1993/176, reg 7. For the meaning of ‘seat belt’ see para 43 note 10 ante.

3 Ibid reg 8(1).
4 ‘Small child’ means a child who is aged under 12 years and under 150 cm in height: ibid reg 2(3).
5 For the meaning of ‘relevant vehicle’ see para 401 note 11 ante.
6 For the meaning of ‘child restraint’ see para 403 note 17 ante.
7 Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 1993, SI 1993/176, reg 8(1)(a).
8 Ibid reg 8(1)(b).
9 ‘Large child’ means child who is not a small child: ibid reg 2(3).
10 Ibid reg 8(1)(c). For the meaning of ‘adult belt’ see para 401 note 11 ante.
11 Ie the marking required under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, SI 1986/1078, reg 47(7) (as amended): see para 130 ante.
12 Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 1993, SI 1993/176, reg 8(2)(a).
13 Ie the law of another member state corresponding to the Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 1993, SI 1993/176.
14 Ibid reg 8(2).
15 As to classes of vehicles see para 8 ante.
16 Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 1993, SI 1993/176, reg 9. The prohibition is contained in the Road Traffic Act 1988 s 15(3), (3A) (as added): see para 404 ante.
17 For the meaning of ‘motor car’ see para 11 ante.
18 Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 1993, SI 1993/176, reg 9(a). For the meaning of ‘passenger car’ see para 404 note 10 ante.
19 For the meaning of ‘licensed taxi’ see para 1116 note 1 post; definition applied by ibid reg 2(1).
20 For the meaning of ‘licensed hire car’ see para 1117 note 4 post; definition applied by ibid reg 2(1).
21 For the meaning of ‘rear seat’ see para 401 note 8 ante.
22 Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 1993, SI 1993/176, reg 9(b).

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