Children in cars.

[Spud]

We have an old Ford Fiesta that does not have seat belts in the back. Our grandson who is 8 years old is coming to stay. The law states that any child cannot be in the front seats under the age of 12. Because we have no seat belts in the back can he legally sit in the front, on a bumper seat with the seat belt on, or must he sit in the back without a seat belt.

[El Cid]

Have a look at this existing thread

http://www.andalucia.com/forums/viewtop ... ld#p262210

Sid

[Spud]

Thank you El Cid. From what I have read I think he will be okay sitting in the front on his bumper seat and with a seat belt on. There are no seat belts in the back and no airbags in the front.

[peteroldracer]

It must be fun watching the testers' faces when you take that for ITV...and how did you get it rematriculated?

[gus-lopez]

It must be fun watching the testers' faces when you take that for ITV...and how did you get it rematriculated?

Why ? No vehicle I have ever taken for a test has ever had a tester open a door ! Set belts have only ever been tested once when one tester pulled one through an open passenger window , as he walked past, on a van we were matriculating !!

[El Cid]

Why ? No vehicle I have ever taken for a test has ever had a tester open a door !

In our test centre the tester takes over, gets into the drivers seat and does the emission test, checks all the things like wipers and washers and also tests the seatbelts front and rear.

Sid

[Julie]

They are rigourous en El Ejido too where I go, but a good thing for everyones safety.

[malagaman2005]

It must be fun watching the testers' faces when you take that for ITV...and how did you get it rematriculated?

Only vehicles manufactured after 1987 (UK) required rear seat belts to be fitted, before that date they were not legally required so no compulsion to have them retro-fitted. If however they are fitted to any vehicle they must be in full working order. I guess similar legislation appertains to Spanish vehicles.

[peteroldracer]

Of course I have made the assumption that the car has been rematriculated...only because no-one surely would be stupid enough to put a loved child in an illegal car?

[gus]

Your assumption must, of course, be correct. Surely no-one would be so daft as to do anything illegal!!

[Footprint]

Why are you assuming the car is UK registered? The OP doesn't say so and that is not what was asked. Same old subject!

[Lavanda]

Footprint, only 195 posts and so cynical?

[gus-lopez]

Of course I have made the assumption that the car has been rematriculated...only because no-one surely would be stupid enough to put a loved child in an illegal car?

If the car is Spanish why would it be illegal ?

[peteroldracer]

The ability to read and understand are dying arts...

[Spud]

The car is Spanish and has passed its Spanish MOT every year or we would not be driving it. The ITV station near us is very severe they check everything and look inside the car and the boot. It is also fully insured, which cost more than the cars value. I would rather he sat in the front with a seat belt than in the back without that´s why I asked the question..

[peteroldracer]

Well done Spud - can you get it registered as a Historic car, with no road tax or anything? There is a system like that in the UK, and I believe that historic cars are exempt from the London congestion charge too, which could come in handy if the Spanish ever realise how much money can be made in the big cities with road-charging.

[Spud]

My relatives paid us a visit 2 weeks ago and thier Modern car with all the computer gadgets broke down and had to be towed to a garage so they borrowed our little Fiesta and drove it to Almeria and back without a problem. I will be sad to see it go when it finally has had enough.

[dido72]

A child can be without a car seat if they are over 135 cm tall which my 7 year old nearly is, the law says it is over that height or over 12. There must be a lot of tiny 12 year old kids running round as my daughter is 10 and the smallest in her class and still more than 135 tall lol.

[markwilding]

The ability to read and understand are dying arts...

ironic really