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For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Parenting

Van safety - anyone (or their partner) drive one with the children in it?

19 replies

peppapighastakenovermylife · 02/05/2009 22:05

I am changing jobs so DH will be taking DS + DD to nursery and school a lot more frequently. He needs to get a new (as in to us) car or van as he cant really fit two car seats and his tools in his current car which is also fairly old and needing replacing for something more reliable anyway.

He is a plumber / gas man so needs something with lots of boot space and to carry stuff around with him all the time so he cant just have something smaller and put the seats down when the children are not in the car.

I am a bit paranoid about car safety and would prefer him to have something high rated. We have two choices - he could get a grand scenic (big boot space, cubby holes etc) or he could get a van.

A van would probably end up cheaper and we already have a family car that I drive (not worth exchanging we have worked out and he cant have that as it hasnt really got enough room). However I cannot find any safety ratings or tests - Euro NCAP don't cover vans. All I can find is scary clips on U tube which make me never want to leave the house again lol.

So does anyone drive a small to medium van or their partner drive one? Do you happen to know how safe they are? Would you choose a car if you had to or are you happy with the safety of the van? I know a lot depends on age etc but just in general.

Any help gratefully appreciated - this is proving too much for my tired brain!

xxx

OP posts:

Report

CandleQueen · 02/05/2009 22:10

How old are your dc's? It could depend on car seats.
DS1 used to travel in my Dad's van a lot, his carseat had a 5 point harness and could go in the front seats. However, DS1 now has a glorified booster seat which is not suitable for front seat travel so he can't go out with his "Ning Ning" any more.

Children ARE safer in the back of a car than the front.

peppapighastakenovermylife · 02/05/2009 22:15

DD is 8 months at the moment - she is in a rear facing Britax first Class Si (turns round when she is older). DS is nearly 3 but very tall for his age so is in a highback booster.

Most vans seem to now have two proper passenger seats and seat belts but I don't know. Seems like they would be very close to the driving and the front of the van if that makes sense - am used to them being securely behind me!

Its the fact I can't find any reviews which is niggling at me...

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feedthegoat · 02/05/2009 22:21

My ds has travelled in in VW transporters belonging to both my dad and brother several times.

They are a van but have two rows of seats with lots of space too. They have had several models between them and rate them highly. I've googled them on NCAP and though I don't really understand the ratings I think they get 4 out of 5 stars (you might want to look yourself if you understand it mind as I'm not sure!).

peppapighastakenovermylife · 02/05/2009 22:23

thanks feedthegoat I will look now...I would never have guessed 5 years ago this would be how I spent my saturday nights lol

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feedthegoat · 02/05/2009 22:25

Pheebe · 03/05/2009 10:40

DH has a vauxhall vivaro and both dcs have gone in that from birth in rear facing and front facing seats. It has a double passenger seat each with independent shoulder belts so the seats are just as firmly secured as in a car. We were told that they are just as safe there as in in the front of a normal car so long as the seatbelt is working properly.

You can also get vans with a second row of seats if you really want them behind you. You can get them properly installed for a few hundred quid. Again I suppose the safety aspect is mostly dependent on a properly installed and working seat belt.

hth

peppapighastakenovermylife · 03/05/2009 13:30

Thanks Pheebe - will have a look

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sazm · 03/05/2009 18:35

would an estate car not be big enough?

peppapighastakenovermylife · 03/05/2009 19:32

Hi Sazm - unfortunately no. he has an estate car now and the problem is that he is over 6 ft with really long legs - you can't fit the children behind him and the boot isnt actually that big.

I already have a scenic but the boot isnt really large enough for him. He needs to carry lots of tools with him as goes to several small jobs some days so needs everything he can get in the car in there really. The boots on the grand scenic for example are much bigger if you take the back seats out.

Saying that - unless anyone knows of a good estate car with loads of leg room with a big boot?

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hedgepig · 03/05/2009 20:05

Hi we have a Vecra which has a huge boot and lots of leg room

but

I would be worried about a lot of heavy tools etc in the boot of any estate car in the case of a crash. I'm not sure the parcel shelf on and estate would hold the tools etc from flying forward into the car bit and injuring the children and your DH. At least vans generally have dividers between the carrying area and the seats at the front which would offer more protection in the case of a crash. .

ravenAK · 03/05/2009 20:09

We've got a Ford Transit 'crew bus' - 2 rows of seats & a van compartment. Dh is a musician & uses it for gigs - amps in the back, sweaty drunken musos in the crew bit.

The cab's just like a car really - double front passenger seat admittedly but two seat belts, then 3 seats in the back.

It's fabulous for holidays - you can just throw in pushchairs, travel cots, tents...

peppapighastakenovermylife · 03/05/2009 22:10

Oh crap, I hadnt thought about that - thanks Hedgewitch. Am now off to google crew buses...

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ravenAK · 03/05/2009 22:16

I think I actually meant crew van though peppa - 'crew bus' seems to throw up minibus types...sorry!

peppapighastakenovermylife · 04/05/2009 09:41

Lol - I did wonder last night but thought my tiredness and wine were combining to confuse me!

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sazm · 06/05/2009 15:35

you can buy a guard for estate cars to stop tools etc flying forward in an accident,

ravenAK · 06/05/2009 19:20

Um, my tiredness & wine were probably at fault tbh!

peppapighastakenovermylife · 06/05/2009 20:13

Someone suggested that Sazm, I'm not sure where to look though. I'm guessing it would be something like a dog guard but would need to be well fixed.

Raven - I suggest we both get more sleep and drink more wine

I cannot get a sensible word out of anyone such as ROSPA, EuroNCAP, the car manufacturers...the lovely lady at the council suggested a VW Transporter as thats what her husband drives (followed by lots of 'this is only my personal opinion' lol)

I sense I am stressing a little too much about this...but if you fancy never being able to sleep again, watch crash test videos on you tube. They are fab

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sazm · 06/05/2009 21:35

yep is like a dog guard,fits on behind the back seat,
i would think any of the bigger estate cars like mondeo/vectra/laguna size would have the same size of boot as the likes of a zafira/grand scenic??

moshie · 10/05/2009 16:05

How about a double cab pick-up truck? Two rows of seats and all the tools and equipment kept totally separate in the back.

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