Topaz - lap belt

Hi everyone, new member here.
We are looking to get our first camper and have been taken with the AS Topaz.
We are looking to get a mid 90's model initially to see how we get on with things.........
One question I have however, is do all models have a fourth 'lap' seat belt on the bench seat.  I have seen some with one but other described as having only 3 travelling seats.
It would be very useful to us for family members on days out etc
Thanks,

I've not owned a Topaz, but have owned a late 90's AS with a similar layout and I'm fairly sure that the extra lap belts were optional.

However, lap belts on sideways facing seats are now recognised as being potentially very dangerous, and are no longer recommended even for occasional use. If you need to have 4 travelling seats then you are probably better off looking at something like the Trident or Trooper, which have a more "traditional" VW based layout with a bench across the van.

Hi there,

The law states:

You must wear a seat belt if one is fitted in the seat you’re using - there are only a few [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].
You’re also only allowed 1 person in each seat fitted with a seat belt.
Children must use the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] for their weight until they reach 135 centimetres tall or their 12th birthday, whichever is first.

In "Petal" (a 1988 Duetto) the seat belts are fitted on all three forward facing seats and must be worn but they are not fitted on the sideways facing seats.

My interpretation of the law is that as seat belts are not fitted on the sideways facing seats persons sitting on them do not need to wear a seat belt.

This is supported by:


If your vehicle doesn’t have seat belts

If your vehicle doesn’t have seat belts, for example it’s a classic car, you aren’t allowed to carry any children under 3 years old in it.
Children over 3 are only allowed to sit in the back seats.
These rules only apply if your vehicle was originally made without seat belts.

Hope this helps.   

Best regards,
  

References:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

There are a lot of topics here on this. Search for them under seatbelts. Or phone your insurance firm up. It's a difficult subject. You do not need a seatbelt for the bench but you can be proscuted by the police in an accident. I have a Trident now as it has four seat belts and purchased a drive away awning so my grandchildren can come with me.

Oh, a quick PS

Forgot to mention that we use the fact that we only have three seat-belts to deter grandchildren; and it works!        

Best regards,
 

I have two settees in the back of my Clubman, I can carry four passengers it is on my insurance certificate, I do not have seat belts as it is pre 2007 this is ok.

I use to have a Topaz, lovely van, found it too small even with just two , just my take on it.

Dutto wrote:Oh, a quick PS

Forgot to mention that we use the fact that we only have three seat-belts to deter grandchildren; and it works!        

Best regards,
 

Ah Dutto. I love taking mine to music festivals with me. We all chill out together and have a fantastic time. 

  

Thanks to everyone.  Looking to get our first camper is quite a step !
My main question was whether the fourth lap belt was fitted at 'standard' in the Topaz or if it was an option.
Mojo thinks it was an option but can any other topaz owners confirm this
Again, many thanks

rose49f wrote:……….. you can be proscuted by the police in an accident. ……..

Hi there,

I think that, even in these Draconian times, the police can only prosecute you if you are committing an offence and the law is as already described!     

Best regards,
 

Carver wrote:Thanks to everyone.  Looking to get our first camper is quite a step !
My main question was whether the fourth lap belt was fitted at 'standard' in the Topaz or if it was an option.
Mojo thinks it was an option but can any other topaz owners confirm this
Again, many thanks

Hi there Carver, on the early Topazs around 96-98 a lap belt was fitted to the side seat. Dealers were in a position to have a second lap belt retro fitted. I know this because I went into it in great detail in the 90s as at the time we had 3 young children and I wanted it find a vehicle where 'all' were belted. Obviously more info is now known about lap belts and they harm they can cause in an accident.

Regards
John

Hi
We had a Topaz [93/4]and 2 belts were fitted on bench seat.

Seat belts in motorhomes and passengers are a very grey area,I recently spoke to dvla,there are details on their web site,but what was made clear was that rear un restrained passengers could become misiles in an accident and therefore you are endangering other people in the vehicle and as such if stopped by police you could be prosecuted.

What about trams, buses , trains most have side seats and no belts, also early vehicles do not have seat belts.

If my friend had been wearing a seat belt when she had her accident ,she would have been killed. the police and assessors  told her this, so NOT wearing a seat belt saved her life.