I did a job for a well known Chelford based haulier last night and was given to keys to a 52-reg DAF CF. I found that the seat belt itself was present and intact, but the bit you connect it to down the side of the seat appeared to have been cut off/removed.
I like to wear a seat belt when driving so went into the office and pointed out that a bit was missing. Don’t worry about it the bloke said. It will be alright, all the other driver’s take it. Yes but surely if a seat belt is fitted then it must be in full working order says I. No that’s not true, you’ll be fine to take it. Okay, but I’d like to wear the seat belt to be honest. Okay, give me those keys back and take this unit instead.
I went to put in a defect for it at the end of the shift but there were having none of it, stating that yet again “it’s alright” and “all the other driver’s take it without complaint”.
I would have made a note of it on the paperwork somewhere that the first DAF was VOR, Rob.
If he still said it was OK to use, I’d have told him that I was then going to phone VOSA and ask them to look out for that particular vehicle on their travels.
I doubt I’d phone them really, but office staff wouldn’t know that.
I always go on the principle that if is fitted, it must work.
As a well known non seat belt wearer I may not have even noticed it but had I done so I’m not sure I would have made a fuss - only to not use it .
However, I would have defected it because, nothing to do with seat belts, there is a long standing regulation that if it’s fitted it must be working.
Seat belts apart Rob, how on earth did you dredge up this old thread? I was amazed to receive a notification of your post via my normal email address, which hasn’t been acceptable to TN since before all my computer troubles last year which forced me to change my persona from BondiTram to Spardo
I rarely wear mine cos Im a fat git, and I also tend to move around a lot shifting position and hate being strangled by it when I do. Doesn’t matter what I get in wagon-wise it seems to go straight across my throat (especially trucks where its part of the seat). First bump, and I’m ready to puke from my adams apple taking the impact.
However, when the weather is bad (wet, fog, wind, snow etc) it goes straight on.
Since the day when the door of an erf flew open whilst going around a corner (L reg, no seatbelt fitted) the seatbelt is always worn if fitted. Luckily all the stuff I have driven on agency has had a belt.
That was one of the incedents that made me decide to say goodbye to the tipper firm
the accident i had in a truck a few years ago if i had been wearing a seatbelt i would have been dead.so i never in a truck but feel naked without it in a car.
Im a non wearer in a truck, and they wont let me forget it at work We jave a monthly newsletter that warns about these things.
My misdemeanor has been in bold print for the last few months However my mate John got caught last week so it is his name that will be emblazoned across the company blurb
I cannot wear the belt in a truck, it feels wrong and cuts into my neck
with the seatbelt question the answer the german police is trying out at present is to use a simulator which will act just as if the cabine is being
rolled over,any one caught without wearing a belt can either pay a fine or take a trip in the simulator,once you have been in this machine 9 out of 10
drivershave a very big rethink and realise how good the belt in reality is…
brit pete:
with the seatbelt question the answer the german police is trying out at present is to use a simulator which will act just as if the cabine is being
rolled over,any one caught without wearing a belt can either pay a fine or take a trip in the simulator,once you have been in this machine 9 out of 10
drivershave a very big rethink and realise how good the belt in reality is…
Never doubted how good it is.
Prefer to take the risk.
Why shouldn’t I be allowed to without Nanny shaking her finger?
Perhaps instead of continuing with an existing thread from way I started have started a new one . My post was put up in an attempt to receive feedback from you folks on what you would have done if faced with what I was when about to take a truck out, ie. the seat belt connector had been cut out. Also, what is the legal standing on it too please?
When working on an Exel contract in Bedford, some N & P reg Scania 93 prime movers had cheapo replacement seats fitted (without belts).
The lads complained, the TGWU got involved and got in contact with VOSA, and it was discovered (IIRC) that it is illegal to remove seatbelts and their mounting points from vehicles first used after a certain date, that had them fitted originally when new. I think the date was some time in 1994.
These vehicles were thus technically illegal, and were taken off the road.
As an aside - some of these comments have made me smile. I agree that personal choice should be the way.
But why do some drivers only wear a belt when the weather is bad .
I know you are more likely to have a prang in bad conditions. But you don’t ever plan to have an accident! As we are all aware, it’s often the actions of those around you that cause accidents. And whether it’s raining or not, it’s still gonna give you a headache when you get launched through the windscreen!
BondiTram:
I am amazed to find so many claiming to wear belts when the evidence of my eyes on the road is to the contrary. Perhaps the ‘no wear’ brigade are frightened of admitting it. Is it not PC these days not to wear?
I have no arguement with the effectiveness of belts.
I hate wearing one.
I do have an arguement with the ‘nanny’ states which try to force people to take an action which is purely for their own protection.
Not wearing a belt does not harm anyone else (I am talking about drivers not back seat passengers).
If they really want to prevent people from killing others they would ban smoking. I am not suggesting that myself but it is more logical.
I have never really worn a belt in a truck or a car but drape (and sometimes clip) a loose belt over my shoulder to save money.
It might cost me my life one day but IT IS MY CHOICE!
Salut, David.
Fair play to you, but consider this, if an accident happens, neither you nor your dependants will be entitled to not one penny in compensation, nor will they be entitled to any other benefits that may go with your job, i.e. death benefit.
This is assuming that you have dependants, otherwise carry on not wearing seatbelts
I must admit i never used to wear a seatbelt until a few months ago, but now i do cos i want my family to receive any compensation ot benefits if the worst should happen. If I dont wear it, regardless of blame in an accident, then they will get nowt, and i cant live with that. The only time i will take it off is when reversing.
.
We jave a monthly newsletter that warns about these things.
. My post was put up in an attempt to receive feedback from you folks on what you would have done if faced with what I was when about to take a truck out, ie. the seat belt connector had been cut out. Also, what is the legal standing on it too please?
