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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to not make my kids wear their seat belts?

42 replies

MTBMummy · 31/05/2017 07:22

We're off to Longleat as a surprise for the kids tomorrow, and I was wondering what people's thoughts were on not wearing seat belts during the safari drive?

We have an MPV so not forcing them to wear them could mean they could climb into the back to get a better view, I imagine there'll be no high speeds, so it should be safe...

OP posts:
boringbetty · 31/05/2017 07:25

We went to Knowsley safari park a few months ago with my DS who was 2 at the time . I let him sit on my knee with no seatbelt so he could have a good view . Most of the other cars had children with no seat belts too . The speed limit was 5mph so nobody racing around

originalbiglymavis · 31/05/2017 07:26

It's the law isn't it? Even if you are stopped in a traffic jam.

StealthPolarBear · 31/05/2017 07:28

Not on private land I wouldn't have thought.
That said you'd be surprised how much force a stop at even at a slow speed can cause

BToperator · 31/05/2017 07:29

I think it's fine. You won't be going any faster than walking speed, so there is very little risk, and I don't imagine there will be any police officers waiting to give out tickets in the lion enclosure. Grin

Littledrummergirl · 31/05/2017 07:29

We took the safari bus-no damage to the car and dh and I made sure to take a child each so they could stand on the seat by the window.
Dd was small enough to squeeze in as well.
It was ace.

neonrainbow · 31/05/2017 07:30

What if the next person behind you bumped into you? Its perfectly possible to be injured at very slow speed.

statetrooperstacey · 31/05/2017 07:31

No seat belts here on safari, been the last four years. Most people have the kids unbelted and standing, as a pp said it's very very slow!

Veterinari · 31/05/2017 07:33

It's the law even on private land - people have been nabbed in Tesco car parks before! Having said that the chances of a traffic policenenan hanging out at a safari park are slim

Honkyzeke · 31/05/2017 07:33

It's the law isn't it? Even if you are stopped in a traffic jam.

It's the law on a public road, as far as I'm aware on private land it's not.

PippaPug · 31/05/2017 07:33

I went to Longleat on Saturday which was fab!
If you go to the Safari part of it in the afternoon then it's so easy to go round - took us 45 mins the second time but first thing in the morning took us almost 2 hours due to traffic

We don't have children but lots of people/children don't wear seatbelts - you can always not wear them in each animal section and when you come out (and should speed up slightly) put them back on again.

Monkey's were really slow to go around but the deer/camels etc was quicker to drive through

Have a wonderful day - I loved it!

TypicallyEnglishMustard · 31/05/2017 07:36

I've been several times, and each time seen cars with kids in and no seat belts/smaller children sat on parents' laps in front to get a better view. I should think it's fine, just keep your wits about you when in the big cats' enclosures, as that's where the "traffic" gets a bit cramped, and people tend to be more distracted.

FuckingDingDong · 31/05/2017 08:14

It's the law even on private land - people have been nabbed in Tesco car parks before!
Have you got a link to that? You can drive around pissed on private land

HerOtherHalf · 31/05/2017 08:20

Have you got a link to that? You can drive around pissed on private land

Private land and public place are not mutually exclusive. The first refers to ownership, the second refers to anywhere the public reasonably have access. So a supermarket car park may be private land but it still counts as a public place and anything that counted as an offense on the public highway would still be an offense in the car park.

Witchend · 31/05/2017 08:21

It probably won't be a problem but we were hit a few years ago when we were stationary and the other car was only doing about 5mph and I was surprised firstly the damage to the car and secondly how we felt. It was really slow, but both us and the car behind did have various aches and pains the next day. Nothing major, but enough to think that a small child with no seat belt could get noticable damage.
Having said that, I'd probably let them assuming they're reasonable sensible.

Oliversmumsarmy · 31/05/2017 08:34

If you do have one on your knee please don't put the seat belt over them as well as yourself.

Friend got into my car with her 1year old on her knee. She put the seatbelt over the baby and herself. I spent the next few minutes explaining how even if I was going at a low speed if I had to stop sharply or someone bumped me the seatbelt would lock and she would go forward crushing her child.

originalbiglymavis · 31/05/2017 08:36

m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ3tm61USTY

SandyDenny · 31/05/2017 08:37

Are you asking if it's allowed or if it's a wise thing to do?

If it's the former just ring and ask them, if the latter you should use your own judgement, you know if your own children are likely to fall over when the car's moving or try to open the window or the door.

nannybeach · 31/05/2017 09:00

check ROSPA site for "law" not mention of private land, but as other posters have said you arent going to be let off in a car park belonging to say a supermarket. Accidents do happen at low speed, you could have a problem with an animal hitting the car. People underestimate the damage/injury even if you are stationary. I always insist on seat belts being worn. I spent some years working in an ED. Some years ago, when rear seat belts werent compulsary, coming home from a day out in winter, car came round corner with headlights on full beam, dazzled DH who was driving, just a couple of seconds (he had never had an accident in 40 years) he up a bank, hit an oak tree, overturned back on the road, I was in the back wearing a sea belt, which SIL thought was really weird, but I would have been badly injured, and this was barley 30 MPH.

abbsisspartacus · 31/05/2017 09:03

At our local safari park they tell you before you set off on the tour bus that you don't need to wear them unless you wish too

angryladyboobs · 31/05/2017 09:07

We don't wear our seat belts around Knowsley, ever.Grin

We do, however, plug them in as otherwise it beeps constantly Angry

GetTheGoodLookingGuy · 31/05/2017 09:07

I went along on a school trip of seven-year-olds to a safari park a couple of years ago. We were on a coach, and the kids were allowed to take their seatbelts off as we went though the animal enclosures.

MuncheysMummy · 31/05/2017 09:14

There is absolutely no law covering wearing seat belts on private land same as your car doesn't need to be taxed,insured or even road worthy if you aren't going on the public road! My parents have lots of land and we often drive around checking fences in an old Land Rover which hasn't been road legal for years! We all dnt wear seat belts in it and my DS often sits on my knee 'driving' as very low speeds. Perfectly legal as an uncle is a traffic officer!

MrsJayy · 31/05/2017 09:15

You can take seatbelts off in longleat most people do yanbu have a great time i love longleat .

originalbiglymavis · 31/05/2017 09:19

Just as long as you have children locks!

I know sone kids who would try to make a dart for freedom and at least the 'click' of the seatbelt would give you a warning of an attempted escape to the wild.

Goodythreeshoes · 31/05/2017 09:35

We actually witnessed a prang at Woburn. Low speed but no doubt a shock for the driver and his family who were hit up the rear by the guy behind.
Saying that, I'd probably let the kids take off their belts - and keep a look out for other distracted drivers!