Technical bulletins
14 Seatbelt requirements for rotating seats
Vehicle inspection requirements manual references
This bulletin gives guidance to vehicle inspectors in applying the following requirements in the VIRM: Entry certification:
- Vehicle interior – 7-1 Seats and seat anchorages: Reasons for rejection 1
- Vehicle interior – 7-5 Seatbelts and seatbelt anchorages: Reasons for rejection 1.
Applicable legislation
Application
This document applies to vehicles fitted with seats that can be rotated or placed to face other directions. Usually, this is to allow front occupants to face rear occupants while the vehicle is stationary.
Safety concern
Although it may be possible to have rotating seats (other than the driver’s seat) face rearward or sideways while traveling on a road, it is only permitted for such seats to be occupied if appropriate seatbelts are fitted.
Seatbelt requirements
Seatbelt requirements depend on the vehicle type, age, number of seats and the location of the seat in the vehicle.
Seats capable of being rotated or placed in other orientations are required to have seatbelts fitted appropriate to the orientation for normal use when the vehicle is travelling on the road (usually forward facing). If the seatbelt cannot be used due to the seat orientation, the seat must not be occupied while the vehicle is moving.
Advisory decals, easily visible to vehicle occupants, must be fitted inside the vehicle to indicate which seating orientations may (or may not) be used while the vehicle is moving.
- See Figure 1-1-1. Flowchart for determining seatbelt compliance for rotating seats
