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Bus and Coach Seat Belt Checks

On 1st October 2001, the amended Construction and Use Regulations came into force to ensure that all new buses, coaches and minibuses (including van conversions) were fitted with seatbelts, and that the strength of their anchorage’s were improved. To ensure compliance, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), with STATUS (Manchester Metropolitan University) introduced new procedures to check that installations met Regulation standards.

Why have the changes to the Construction and Use Regulations been made?

To ensure that passengers of larger vehicles are offered similar levels of protection to those who travel in cars, light vans and minibuses under 3,500 kg gross weight. The regulations now require seat belts on all forward and rearward facing seats on new buses, coaches and minibuses to meet European standards as they do for smaller vehicles. Side facing seats do not require seat belts or anchorages.


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What vehicles are affected?

Buses, coaches and minibuses, including van conversions, first used (i.e. registered) on or after 1 October 2001. These are passenger vehicles with more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat. Urban buses which are designed to carry standing passengers are not required to be fitted with seat belts. But if seat belts are fitted the anchorages are required to meet the same strength requirements as mandatory anchorages. There is no compulsory retrofit of belts to vehicles used before 1 October 2001 but any vehicle with seat belt anchorages voluntarily fitted after this date (including any urban buses with standing passengers) should meet the new anchorage strength requirements.


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Are lap type seat belts still permitted?

Lap belts are generally permitted on rearward facing seats. As far as forward facing seats are concerned lap belts are only permitted on buses with a design gross vehicle weight exceeding 3500kg and where any feature in the head impact zone in front of a seat with lap belts has energy absorbent qualities which comply with European standards.


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How is compliance with the new anchorage standards checked?

In all vehicles it is the responsibility of the manufacturer or converter to ensure that these standards are met. For PSVs which are subject to the PSV Certificate of Initial Fitness test, the Certifying Officer will need to be satisfied, as far as possible, that all the anchorages on a new vehicle meet the new requirements.


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Doesn’t the visual check which is carried out on older vehicles at the annual test achieve this?

No. The current visual examination of seat belt anchorages is not sufficient to ensure compliance. The only sure way of knowing that the European standards are met is to have seat anchorage pull tests carried out using special equipment?


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Who can test a seat belt anchorage?

There are a number of specialist organisations who can carry out these tests such as STATUS (Manchester Metropolitan University), Millbrook Proving Ground, Transport Research Laboratory.


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Can I test belt anchorages myself?

Yes, if you have the necessary equipment and expertise to enable you to conduct the tests properly. It is likely that the Certifying Officer will want to ensure that the tests have been witnessed either in person or by another Certifying Officer or by a member of the Vehicle Certification Agency before accepting the results for PSV certification purposes.


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What evidence will the Certifying Officer require to show that the seat belt anchorages meet with European standards before a bus can be certified as a PSV ?

The Certifying Officer will need to see written evidence to show that these standards are met. This may be in the form of type approval documentation or a test report.


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Is there an alternative to the pull tests?

The only sure way of ensuring the anchorage requirements are met is to have the special anchorage pull tests carried out. However the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), have introduced a visual check based on guidance from STATUS (Manchester Metropolitan University), to assess whether the anchorage requirements are likely to be met This only applies to single deck buses where seats are fitted with integral belts and which meet the required European standards. The visual check involves the installation of the seat in the vehicle to ensure adequate floor section reinforcement and seat retention

This will be carried out on all vehicles presented for PSV certification which have not been subjected to the pull test. A voluntary check service is available for non PSVs if required. A fee is associated with this voluntary check.

Note: The continuation of the visual check is subject to review


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What if seat belts are fitted on a new PSV after certification on either additional seats or on a vehicle with standees ?

A vehicle is likely to fail its next annual test unless the operator has notified VOSA and there is evidence that a certifying officer has approved the installation.


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I am planning to fit additional belts to an older vehicle. Will the anchorages have to meet European standards?

Any vehicle with seat belts anchorages fitted voluntarily after 1 October 200, i.e. older vehicles and any urban bus with standing passengers, should meet European technical and installation standards. However the current visual check for older vehicles will continue at the vehicles annual test.


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Where can I find out about the standards that Certifying Officers will apply?

VOSA and STATUS also provided advice to vehicle builders and converters and equipment manufacturers on changes to the requirements to fit seat belts and to the new anchorages strength. This can be found in the document Guide to the Changes in Seat Belt Installations.

Page last updated: 04/06/2008