Any police officers here? Can you settle debate for us please?

[nickyjy]

A relative of mine has kindly offered to take my 2 DC (twins aged 6), along with her child (aged 4) and a another relative's child (also aged 4) on a day trip that involves a 1 hour car journey in each direction.
I asked how she intends getting 4 children in back of her car, with only 3 seat belts. She said my twins can each have a seat belt and the younger 2 children can "share" the 3rd seatbelt, so that it pulls across and straps both of them in.
I'm not sure whether this is legal or not? And whether it would risk the safety of the 2 little ones in the event of an accident.
Obviously I haven't agreed to my twins going on this trip yet, not until I know whether what my cousin has suggested is actually legal/allowed.
Any ideas? Would really appreciate a definitive answer, ideally from police, legal people or similar.
Thanks, Nicky x

That would be highly illegal, what with the Nanny State being overly concerned with the whole ‘keeping children alive’ thing. What about putting the two smallest children on the roof rack? You’d need a couple of those elastic cords just to secure them down, but you can get them really cheaply on eBay. Just cover them with an old bit of tarpaulin first and it’ll be weather proof for them as well. (disclaimer, I’m not actually a police officer, but I’m sure it will be perfectly safe).

What day trip are they doing? Swimming with crocodiles? Pot holing for beginners?

Oh yes! I remember three of us children, when we were all primary school age, returning after dark from the Earl's Court Furniture trade show in the early 70s Being driven through London in the back of a Cortina estate.

Back seats down, one Slumberland quilted mattress topping layer undermeath us and another across the top. Mum and Dad quietly chatting away in the front or sitting in comfortable silence. A different view of London. Different days... and we didn't know differently.

Getting back to the question. Nope, no-one in their right mind would think that was legal.

Why can’t one go on the front?

Police officer here.

illegal, unsafe and highly stupid

No chance. It isn’t legal or safe

You don't need to be in the police force to know that's not legal

This has got to be a wind up?

Different times.

You don't need to be a police officer to know that is total crap OP.

Come on.

Illegal. Unsafe and an idiotic question to ask! You seriously need to research car seat safety for children, what a fool you are.

I don't think you need to be a police officer or undertaken a law degree or even have more than one brain cell to know that you cannot share a seatbelt

This. You'd happily risk your child's life as long as it's legal??

I would have one in front and 3 in the back. All with high back booster and own seat belt.

You seriously have to come on here to ask?
😳
Surely you must know the law about seatbelts and children travelling safely by now?

What on earth do you need a police officer for?

@unicormb @BeggarsMeddle this was the first thing I thought of!

My dad had an estate car and on long night time journeys home from my Nan's place in West London to our house in Essex there would be three of us in sleeping bags in the boot.

One memorable time he decided to take all the kids in our street to the local Zoo. Four on the back seats , four more on laps and a bunch of kids in the boot. Hanging out of the windows singing " we're all going to the Zoo" as he drove along.

I'm amazed we survived the 70's but I do have a scar next to my eye thanks to my Dad having to brake hard on the A406 while a piece of furniture with sharp edges was balanced across our laps. A trip to A&E followed. I imagine the doctors just shrugged when he explained how it happened!

As many others have said - you don’t need a police officer to know this is illegal and unsafe 🙄🙄
I can’t believe you have 6 year olds … you sound 6 yourself 🫤🙄

Your friend's a div & you're worse for having to clarify the legality of this. Of course it's not legal, of course it's going to jeopardise your kids' safety and I don't think I'd consider her a good friend if her judgment is this poor.

Err pretty sure they all need car seats anyway

Of course it's not ok. You should know that by having a brain cell. You don't need legal advice, you need a wake up call about your complete inability to judge safe situations.

Definitely a bad idea. Once they get there,how is this 1 adult going to manage 4 little kids. Are they all going to be leashed together? If 1 runs, how will she/he catch that 1 while still keeping control of the other 3?

Ffs, how numb are you

Are you serious? Why are you on mumsnet asking for police? Surely it’s easier to ask them directly. They will say no by the way 🙄

I’d be even more concerned about the safety and manageability once they get where they’re going! One adult, 2 x 6 yr olds, 2 x 4 yr olds. What happens when the adult needs the loo? Leave them all outside? What happens if one 4 yr old needs a bum wipe!
many many other scenarios spring to mind too.

A friend was killed when sharing a seatbelt and the car overturned. It's a massive NO.