Vehicle interior
5-5 Seats and seatbelt anchorages
Reasons for rejection
1. A seatbelt of the type specified in Table 5-5-1, Table 5-5-2 and Table 5–5–3 has not been fitted for a seating position where one is required to be fitted.
2. A seatbelt is fitted, but it is not the type specified in Table 5–5–1, Table 5-5-2 and Table 5–5–3 for the seating position.
3. The seatbelt assembly is not securely fixed to a seatbelt anchorage. (see Technical bulletin 1 for further information on corrosion in Nissan Terrano or Mistral rear floorpan assemblies).
4. A seatbelt component (eg protective plastic cover on buckle, tongue or retractor system) is damaged so that foreign objects may enter the interior components, or so that they may cause damage to the interior components, mechanisms or webbing.
5. The seatbelt webbing (including webbing attached to the buckle) has:
a) a cut, including a cut on the surface, or
b) a rip or tear, or
c) fraying, or
d) stretching (eg the belt has unusual web patterns or the webbing is deformed, will not lie flat, or is curled or rippled), or
e) fading so that most of the colour has been bleached, or
f) signs of chalking, or a powdery residue is evident on the webbing, or
g) become stiff, or
h) been dyed to conceal fading, or
i) contamination from grease, paint, solvents or similar products.
6. The seatbelt stitching:
a) is damaged or insecure, or
b) shows signs of home repairs, eg glueing, stitching by hand or home sewing machine, staples, bolts, or rivets, or
c) indicates that the ‘rip stitch’ system has been activated, that is the stitching is broken and a ‘REPLACE BELT’ label has been exposed near the lower seatbelt anchorage, or this label has been
cut off.
7. A buckle and tongue:
a) are mismatched, or
b) do not lock, or
c) do not remain locked, or
d) do not release easily, or
e) are insecure when coupled.
8. A seatbelt stalk:
a) (wire-cable type) has wires that appear to be broken, or
b) (plastic covered webbing type) has webbing that has deteriorated or is frayed, cut or faded, or
c) (solid metal type) is corroded, cracked or buckled, or
d) is not the correct type for the vehicle or the seating position.
9. A seatbelt with a pre-tensioning or pyrotechnic system has not been replaced after activation.
10. A seatbelt anchorage shows signs of cracks or deformation.
11. A diagnostic report has not been completed by the manufacturer or an approved representative for seatbelts that are connected to an ECU.
12. A seatbelt that is known to have been worn during a crash has not been replaced unless:
a) this is permitted in the manufacturer’s instructions
b) the seatbelt has been inspected and certified to be within safe tolerance by the manufacturer or an approved agent.
13. A water-damaged vehicle is fitted with a seatbelt assembly that has been immersed or a second-hand replacement seatbelt assembly, and the assembly has not been inspected and certified to be within safe tolerance by the manufacturer or an approved agent.
Note 1 Definitions
Outer seating position means a seating position next to a side wall of the vehicle where there is no more than 500mm between the longitudinal centre of the seat and the side wall.
Middle seating position means a seating position in a vehicle that is not an outer seating position.
Rear seating position means a seating position in a vehicle behind the driver.
Monocoque, in relation to a motor vehicle, means that the chassis of the vehicle is integral to the body.
Retrofit, in relation to a seatbelt or seatbelt anchorage in a motor vehicle, means to fit a seatbelt or seatbelt anchorage in a location where a seatbelt or seatbelt anchorage has not been fitted before.
Key to Table 5–5–1: Types of seatbelt
|
— |
No seatbelt required |
|
L |
Lap seatbelt |
|
S |
Static lap and diagonal seatbelt without a retractor |
|
R1 |
Single-sensitive emergency locking retractor lap and diagonal seatbelt |
|
R2 |
Multiple (dual) sensitive emergency locking retractor lap and diagonal seatbelt. |
Table 5–5–1 Vehicles first registered in New Zealand before 1 January 1991
|
Vehicle class |
Seating position (Note 5) |
First registered anywhere |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 January 1955 to 31 October 1979 |
1 November 1979 to 31 December 1990 |
||
|
MA, MB, MC |
Front outer and driver’s |
S2 |
R21, 3 |
|
Front middle (Note 1) |
— |
L |
|
|
Rear outer (Note 1) |
— |
R2 or R1 or S |
|
|
Rear middle |
— |
L |
|
|
NA (tare <2000 kg) |
Front outer and driver’s |
S2 |
R21 |
|
Front middle |
— |
L |
|
1 a four-wheel drive vehicle may be fitted with type S or type R1 seatbelts in the front outer seating position
2 may retain OE seatbelts, but replacement seatbelts must be of type S
Key to Table 5–5–2: Types of seatbelt
|
— |
No seatbelt required |
|
L |
Lap seatbelt |
|
S |
Static lap and diagonal seatbelt without a retractor |
|
R1 |
Single-sensitive emergency locking retractor lap and diagonal seatbelt |
|
R2 |
Multiple (dual) sensitive emergency locking retractor lap and diagonal seatbelt. |
Table 5–5–2. Vehicles first registered in New Zealand from 1 January 1991 to 31 March 2002
|
Vehicle Class |
Seating position |
First registered anywhere |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 January 1955 to 31 December 1960 |
1 January 1961 to 31 December 2002 |
||
|
MA, MB, MC |
Front outer and driver’s |
S1, 2 |
R25, 6 |
|
Front middle |
— |
L |
|
|
Rear outer |
— |
R2 or R1 or S1 |
|
|
Rear middle |
— |
L or S or R1 or R2 |
|
|
NA |
Front outer and driver’s |
S1,2 |
R25 |
|
Front middle |
— |
L |
|
|
MD1, MD2 |
Front outer and driver’s |
— |
R23, 4, 5 |
|
Front middle |
— |
L4 |
|
1 tare weight less than 2000kg
2 may retain OE belts, but replacement belts must be of type S, R1 or R2
3 applies to MD2 only if of monocoque construction (Note 1)
4 if seatbelts are not fitted, but anchorages are fitted, must have seatbelts fitted from 1 October 2002. If anchorages are not fitted, seatbelts must be retro-fitted from 1 October 2003 (Note 1)
5 front type R1 seatbelts may remain fitted if they were fitted as OE and have a declaration issued by a TSD agent, or a plate affixed to the vehicle in a position approved by the NZTA. If missing, refer the vehicle to a TSD agent.
Key to Table 5–5–3: Types of seatbelt
|
— |
No seatbelt required |
|
L |
Lap seatbelt |
|
S |
Static lap and diagonal seatbelt without a retractor |
|
R1 |
Single-sensitive emergency locking retractor lap and diagonal seatbelt |
|
R2 |
Multiple (dual) sensitive emergency locking retractor lap and diagonal seatbelt. |
Table 5–5–3. Vehicles first registered in New Zealand from 1 April 2002
|
Vehicle class |
Seating position |
Manufactured |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 January 1955 to 31 October 1979 |
1 November 1979 to 30 September 2003 |
From 1 October 2003 |
||
|
MA, MB, MC |
Front outer and driver’s |
S1, 2 |
R25, 6 |
R25, 6 |
|
Front middle |
— |
L |
L |
|
|
Rear outer |
— |
R2 or R1 or S1 |
R2 or R1 |
|
|
Rear middle |
— |
L or S or R1 or R2 |
L or S or R1 or R2 |
|
|
NA (excluding motorhomes manufactured from 1 October 2003) |
Front outer and driver’s |
S1, 2 |
R25 |
R25 |
|
Front middle |
— |
L |
L |
|
|
Rear outer |
— |
— |
R2 or R1 |
|
|
Rear middle |
— |
— |
L or S or R1 or R2 |
|
|
MD1, MD2 |
Front outer and driver’s |
— |
R23, 4, 5 |
R25 |
|
Front middle |
— |
L3, 4 |
L |
|
|
Rear outer |
— |
— |
R2 or R1 |
|
|
Rear middle |
— |
— |
L or S or R1 or R2 |
|
1 tare weight less than 2000kg
2 may retain OE belts, but replacement belts must be of type S, R1 or R2
3 applies to MD2 only if of monocoque construction (Note 1)
4 if seatbelts are not fitted, but anchorages are fitted, must have seatbelts fitted from 1 October 2002. If anchorages are not fitted, seatbelts must be retrofitted from 1 October 2003 (Note 1)
5 front type R1 seatbelts may remain fitted if they were fitted as OE and have a declaration issued by a TSD agent, or a plate affixed to the vehicle in a position approved by the NZTA. If missing, refer the vehicle to a TSD agent.
Summary of legislation
Applicable legislation
Mandatory equipment
1. A motor vehicle must be fitted with seatbelts as specified in Table 5–5–1, Table 5-5-2 and Table 5–5–3.