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#1 The Matt

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Posted 31 January 2006 - 06:35 PM

Right, I am going to open a tin of worms here, so I am gonna apologise first! SORRY PEEPS!

Harnesses, release mechanisms........... blah blah blah :saywhat:

Was chatting to a guy at work today about the legalities of QR (turn) release buckles on harnesses and how they are not road legal (according to many a thread on many a forum).

His response was..........

'But my mates Caterham has them in it from the factory'

I said nope, deffo not road legal.........

Long story short, he phoned his mate with the Caterham to double check, deffo fitted with turn release buckles, his mate phoned Caterham to confirm they were road legal, Caterham said yup, approved for road use.

So, if I buy 3" wide FIA QR style harnesses, they will not (as I understand) be road legal when fitted to my mini.

Is it only because of SVA tests etc that they are legal on the Caterham from new????

#2 Jammy

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Posted 31 January 2006 - 06:42 PM

I was thinking about the SVA tests as I was reading through. I guess this might be one for VOSA?

#3 The Matt

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Posted 31 January 2006 - 06:44 PM

Yup, might be worth some kind of research! I was certain about the legal issues and can see that one type of release mechanism should be standard for road cars, but I am now stood with an empty can in one hand, a ring pull in the other and a load of worms on the floor!

More research tomorrow whilst at work methinks! :fear:

#4 Bungle

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Posted 31 January 2006 - 06:47 PM

i have to go and see my MOT man tomorrow about my mini so will ask him :smartass:

#5 The Matt

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Posted 31 January 2006 - 06:48 PM

i have to go and see my MOT man tomorrow about my mini so will ask him :smartass:

he won't know lol! :lol:

I used to be a tester (albeit a long time ago) and I aint certainabout the legalities! :lol:

Jokin apart, wouldn't mind knowing what he says Bungle.

#6 icklemini

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Posted 31 January 2006 - 07:27 PM

think its more to do with the 'e' marking - you know: lights belts, etc all should have this e marking thingy.

Its in the construction and use regs - i have a copy if anyone is *really* interested!! :smartass:

#7 TJenkos

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Posted 31 January 2006 - 07:31 PM

One of our members (Jackman?) said about these being alot unsafer. It takes a lot longer to undo these in a crash. I remember him saying he would prefer people having the push ones as he doesn't want his girlfriend in a crushed car any longer than she has to.....

If that was Jackman??

#8 Dan

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Posted 31 January 2006 - 07:57 PM

I think you'll find that the Caterham actually left the factory with normal innertia reel seatbelts fitted, got SVA'd and registered then went back to the factory to have the optional quick release belts fitted in their place. Lot's of kit car companies do that with various options, as do mass production car makers. Some options you can choose just wouldn't pass type approval and so they become 'dealer fit' options. Like body kits that reduce the ground clearance to lower than a speed bump. It's not axactly legal and the belts in particular may lead to problems in a strict MOT test but they do it becasue customers want it.
Check Caterham's website, The cars come as standard with lap and diagonal normal seatbelts. They then list road 4 point harness and race 4 point harness as two different options. I'll bet the race 4 point harness is the one with the 1/4 turn buckle and probably comes with a warning about using it on the road.

None of the seatbelt or harness companies advertise a road approved harness with a 1/4 turn buckle AFAIK.

Oh and it was me that said that above, she's a Paramedic.

Edited by Dan, 31 January 2006 - 07:58 PM.


#9 Grayedout

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Posted 31 January 2006 - 10:05 PM

From the MOT Testers Manual :lol:

"Note 3:
An adult harness belt comprising a lap belt and shoulder straps bearing a British standard marking is an acceptable alternative to any of the seat belt types listed."

Read into that what you want !!!

MOT Testers Manual

#10 Bungle

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Posted 01 February 2006 - 06:26 PM

Jokin apart, wouldn't mind knowing what he says Bungle.

saw MOT man today and i asked whats the rules with release buckles on harnesses

he said "i dont know but i will look it up on my new computer" , so he put his MOT disk in and had a look

not much :lol:

the only things he could find is to

look for a BS number
look where they are bolted to
look for ware and tear on the webbing

so i asked him if i came in for a MOT with the QR (turn) release buckles would he pass them

he said yes as long as the pass the 3 points above :grin:

#11 The Matt

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Posted 01 February 2006 - 06:28 PM

okey dokey, thanks for that Bungle :wink:

I think I am gonna play it safe and go for normal ones now though, it seems to be a little confusing! I have seen ads on websites saying that they are road legal, but I keep getting told they aint, so I am gonna buy some normal buckled 4 point ones!

#12 The Matt

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Posted 01 February 2006 - 06:30 PM

3rd one down


More confusing! :lol:

#13 ian

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Posted 01 February 2006 - 07:14 PM

i turned down a pair of new in the box safety devices 4 point for 60 quid the other day because of this

#14 The Matt

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Posted 01 February 2006 - 07:25 PM

still lookin into it, need to find a copy of the construction and use regulations item 47! :lol:

#15 icklemini

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Posted 01 February 2006 - 07:27 PM

as above...

i have a copy in HTML format!!




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