Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Car seat for a coach - lap belt only - what to do???

31 replies

Hulababy · 04/06/2004 10:19

Just wondered if anyone has any product advice for me?

DD is 25 months, and about 2 stone in weight (maybe slightly above but not sure)

Next Friday (11th) she has a nursery trip and will be making a trip of about an hour (maybe less) in a coach. I will be going with her.

I have just spoken to the nursery manager about this and asked about seat belts. Apparantly the coach is most likely only going to have lap belts.

Neither the car seat I have nor the one my PILs have can be used with just a lap belt

I am not happy about her going without a restraint at all.

One alternative is for me to go in my own car - although I guess I'd still have to pay for the full ticket/coach price, and DD won't get to have the 'exciting' coach trip of singing and music with her friends.

A friend of mine does have a seat that can be fitted with a lap belt, but I think her ex-Dh (also a friend) now uses this in his car. Sadly both of these two are away at the moment and not back till later next week. So it'll be last minute if I can borrow from them.

Does anyone know what other alernatives there are for me? Would rather not have to pay too much out obviously? And no where round here seems to do rentals - looked into that once before, and then wasn't needed any way.

Any help?

TIA

OP posts:
gloworm · 04/06/2004 10:25

bit of a long shot, but where do you live?
perhaps someone on MN could lend you one for the day? (sorry i'm in ireland so cant offer)

if its of any help the Britax Freeway can be used with just a lap belt. prob cost at least £60 though

Hulababy · 04/06/2004 10:26

It is the Britax Freeway that my friend has I think. Just wish she had a mobile that'd work out of the country! I'm in Sheffield.

OP posts:
pamina3 · 04/06/2004 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

secur · 04/06/2004 13:19

Message withdrawn

Hulababy · 04/06/2004 13:21

Can't find it in Argos, but is this it: here

Can't find anything that mentions use of lap belt though.

OP posts:
Hulababy · 04/06/2004 13:22

Lovely idea secur but sadly have no time left to collect Busy all weekend, and meeting a friend on Monday! Thanks for the offer though.

OP posts:
secur · 04/06/2004 13:42

Message withdrawn

Northerner · 04/06/2004 14:03

Hi Hula. Have a look at this

It might be helpful.

Northerner · 04/06/2004 14:06

try again

Northerner · 04/06/2004 14:07

In the carrying children safely section there is a section for coaches.

Hulababy · 04/06/2004 14:09

Just says:

Cars
Child under 3 years old
Child Aged 3 to 11 years and under 1.5 metres tall
Child Aged 12 or 13 years or younger children 1.5 metres or more in height
Passengers Over 14 years old
Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles

Taxis and Private Hire Cars - Child under 3 years old
Taxis and Private Hire Cars - Child Aged 3 to 11 years and under 1.5 metres tall
Taxis and Private Hire Cars - child Aged 12 or 13 years or younger children 1.5 metres or more in height
Taxis and Private Hire Cars - Passengers Over 14 years old
Other Vehicles

Front Seats
Rear Seats

Summary of Seat Belt Laws

How Belting Up Became Law...

More Passengers than Seat Belts
Legal Penalties
Cars
The law requires children travelling in cars to use an appropriate child restraint or adult seat belt, if they are available. Children cannot be carried in the front seat unless they are either in a child restraint or are using the seat belt. It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that children under the age of 14 years are either using an appropriate child restraint or an adult seat belt if available.

Cars - Children under 3 years old
If carried in the front seat, an appropriate child restraint MUST be used (the adult seat belt is not sufficient). Children under 3 years old may not travel in the front unless they are in a child restraint.

If carried in the rear seat, an appropriate child restraint MUST be used, IF AVAILABLE.

If an appropriate restraint is fitted in the front of the car, but not the rear, children under 3 years old MUST sit in the front and use that restraint. Remember, you could move the restraint from the front to the rear if you wish. Rearward-facing seats are designed to be used in the rear as well as the front. You should always put a rearward-facing baby seat in the rear if is a front passenger airbag fitted.

Cars - Children Aged 3 to 11 years and under 1.5 metres tall

If carried in the front seat, an appropriate child restraint MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.
If not, an adult seat belt MUST be worn.

If carried in the rear seat, an appropriate child restraint MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.
If not, an adult seat belt MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.

If an appropriate restraint or seat belt is fitted in the front of the car, but not in the rear, children between 3 to 11 years old and under 1.5 metres tall MUST use that restraint or seat belt. (Remember, you could move the restraint from the front to the rear if you wish).

Cars - Children Aged 12 or 13 years or younger children 1.5 metres or more in height

If carried in the front or rear seat, an adult seat belt MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.

Cars - Passengers Over 14 years old

If travelling in the front or rear seat, an adult seat belt MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.

----------------

Taxis and Private Hire Cars
The law is exactly the same as for children travelling in cars.

Taxis and private hire cars - Children under 3 years old

If carried in the front seat, an appropriate child restraint MUST be used (the adult seat belt is not sufficient)

If carried in the rear seat, an appropriate child restraint MUST be used, IF AVAILABLE.

If an appropriate restraint is fitted in the front of the car, but not the rear, children under 3 years old MUST sit in the front and use that restraint. (Remember, you could move the restraint from the front to the rear if you wish, and you should do this if you are using a rearward-facing baby seat and there is a passenger airbag fitted).

Taxis and private hire cars - Children Aged 3 to 11 years and under 1.5 metres tall

If carried in the front seat, an appropriate child restraint MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.
If not, an adult seat belt MUST be worn.

If carried in the rear seat, an appropriate child restraint MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.
If not, an adult seat belt MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.

If an appropriate restraint or seat belt is fitted in the front of the car, but not in the rear, children between 3 to 11 years old and under 1.5 metres tall MUST use that restraint or seat belt. (Remember, you could move the restraint from the front to the rear if you wish).

Taxis and private hire cars - Children Aged 12 or 13 years or younger children 1.5 metres or more in height

If carried in the front or rear seat, an adult seat belt MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.

Taxis and private hire cars - Passengers Over 14 years old

If carried in the front or rear seat, an adult seat belt MUST be worn IF AVAILABLE.

----------------

Other Vehicles (vans, buses, coaches, minibuses and goods vehicles)

Other Vehicles - Front Seats
The law requires children (and adults) travelling in the front of all vehicles, including vans, buses, coaches, minibuses and goods vehicles to use an appropriate child restraint or adult seat belt, if they are available. Children cannot be carried in the front seat of any vehicle that has seat belts fitted unless they are either in a child restraint or are using the seat belt.

Other Vehicles - Rear Seats
All coaches and minibuses manufactured or first used on or after 1 October 2001 must be fitted with seat belts. In earlier vehicles, children (aged 3 to 15 years) on organised trips (including home to school travel) must be provided with seat belts and a forward-facing seat. (Buses used for public services, and which are designed to carry standing passengers, do not have seat belts fitted).

The law requires children travelling in the rear of small minibuses (with an unladen weight of 2,540 kgs or less) to wear seat belts or to use an appropriate child restraint, if available. It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that children under the age of 14 years are either using an appropriate child restraint or an adult seat belt if available.

The law presently does not require children to wear seat belts in the rear of larger minibuses or coaches. However, if seat belts are fitted they should be used. A seat belt can only protect the wearer if it is being worn.

So still no closer really

OP posts:
Hulababy · 04/06/2004 14:10

Ooops - sorry -0 thought I'd only copied the last bit!!

OP posts:
Northerner · 04/06/2004 14:19

In a nutshell then, your dd can legally travel on the coach restained only by a lap belt. Coaches only have to supply lap belts as stastically coach travel is far safer than car travel. However, if you're not happy with this arrangement you'll have to drive her.

What are the other kids doing?

Hulababy · 04/06/2004 14:21

No idea Northerner. I haven't taken DD into nursery this week (half term for me) so not had chance to talk to anyone about it much.

So even though she is under 3 she uses the lap belt? Unlike the law in a car? And would she be better if on a booster cushion?

Oh I have no idea!!!

OP posts:
Hulababy · 04/06/2004 15:54

Having just 'talked' to someone else about this I have realised that I have taken DD on a train, a tram and a bus without restraint, so why do I feel so bad about a coach with no restraint? What is the difference between taking her on a bus and a coach really?

OP posts:
secur · 04/06/2004 15:58

Message withdrawn

secur · 04/06/2004 16:00

Message withdrawn

Northerner · 04/06/2004 16:02

She'll be fine usimg the lap belt. The law regarding cars only states that adult seat belts are NOT sufficient for children under 3 if travelling in front seat.

Hulababy · 04/06/2004 16:04

Do you think she'd be better sat on a booster cushion with the lap belt, rather than the seat? To lift her a bit more so belt goes across lap, rather than tummy. I have a feeling this'll be going round in my head until the day now!

OP posts:
secur · 04/06/2004 16:08

Message withdrawn

Hulababy · 04/06/2004 16:09

Might just go and get one anyway, will need one for future so not wasted buy. Can take it with me and see how it feels. If I am still really unhappy I can still drive from there.

OP posts:
secur · 04/06/2004 16:11

Message withdrawn

LIZS · 04/06/2004 16:14

I'd be uncomfortable about this too. However like you we've been on trains, trams and public buses without a thought. ds travels to school in a minibus with lap belts only and this is accepted here as standard.

I've had a trawl around but not found many alternative seats which take just a lap belt or at least state that they do. The convertible ones, perhaps because of their lighter construction, do not seem to be able to use just a lap belt even with the 5 point harness in place - Concord Fixmax/Trimax is unclear and Britax Trio does not.

I have reservations about using a booster with just lap belt but not sure why. It is not recommended to use them apart form with a 3 point adult belt and with a lap belt the back could add to the force forwards on the upper body in a crash. Perhaps just a booster cushion would at least raise her up so the lap belt is across the correct part of her pelvis. Sorry not sure this waffle is much help...

Think your best bet is to try to borrow your friend's seat again or ask the nursery to specify that the coach should have 3 point belts - I doubt you are alone in your concerns.

katzguk · 04/06/2004 17:04

hi

you can borrow mine
its a britax reanissance think it can be used with lap strap just going to check

will text you to

Hulababy · 04/06/2004 17:19

Thanks Katzguk You're brill!

OP posts: