Question:
My dog has chewed right through my drivers belt and damaged the passenger belt. The law have handed me a 14 day rectification notice to which i say thank you Northumbria Police for not doing me.
I cant for the life of me find reasonably priced replacement belts except from a scrap guy who's asking £155 for the pair. I've seen racing harness' for a third of that price but i need to know if they're legal? Any advice appreciated.
Answers:
Who wishes David Frost would stop asking repeat questions?
I think it is legal to have them fitted, but I'm not sure if it's illegal not to have the original belts at the same time also.I know it sounds stupid, but by law, a vehicle has to be fitted with belts which can be fastened with one hand whilst driving, which of course, you cannot do with full harness belts.
In reality, I very much doubt that you would get done for not having the original belts BUT, if the car has to undergo an MOT test, it would fail due to the fact that it would fall foul of the Construction & Use Regulations.
How many people can seat in back set of mid size car by law?
I would think that you readily find a set of belts from a breaker's yeard, and you could do that on the internet if you search under the "spares" and the make of car. Many would be happy to send them to you through the post.
Do not try to save money on safety belts - you could be putting your life at risk. If buying belts from a scrap car, make sure the car is not being scrapped because of an accident, as that will have stressed the belts. Buy new if possible.
A racing harness may be cheap to buy, but they are not that easy to fit. Also a racing harness holds you very tight in place. It isn't spring-loaded like a normal inertia-reel belt, so you can't lean forward to operate the minor controls. On the road you have to be able to reach things such as demister/ventilation controls and fog lamp switches. A racing harness may prevent that, which would make its use on the road illegal.
While you are at it, get a proper harness for the dog. Not only will it stop him chewing the new belts, it will also keep him safe and will prevent him from being thrown forward and causing injuries to driver or passengers in the event of an accident (or even severe braking).
Will everyone please look both ways before they cross the street?
If the laws given you 14 day to rectify the problem they will probably not allow you to use a racing harness. You may also have problems when it comes to an MOT as the originals will not be functional. Try the scrap yard on the way to the tyne tunnel as they will be able to help you out, typically scrap car belts go for about £20 per pair. Make sure you take all the fittings/bolts and do not try to strip the bottom inertial assembly as they are almost impossible to put back together.How do I pick up a hitch-hiker on a bicycle?
The point at issue is whether the harness is approved under British Standards for road use. £155 for a pair of scrap belts seems a bit steep. I'd bite the bullet and buy new, after all it's your and your passengers personal safety at risk.More Questions & Answers ...
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