Probably the most stupid question ever asked on here but why do some hgvs have red seatbelts? I havent seen them on any other vehicles like private cars, vans,taxis or buses. The explanation is probably a very simple one but it just got me curious and i couldn’t find a possible reason why.
So the office Gestapo can check if you are wearing it as you drive out of the yard.
More and more companies do seatbelt audits. So overtime the manufacturers have just standard spec’d it now.
Out of interest, do you all wear them in the UK? I know its easy pickings nicking car drivers but whats the score with the police with trucks? Is it rigorously enforced?
AndrewG:
Out of interest, do you all wear them in the UK? I know its easy pickings nicking car drivers but whats the score with the police with trucks? Is it rigorously enforced?
I wear it, but the Polish bloke who drives my truck at night doesn’t. (I know this because the clasp is always plugged into the socket in the morning, to stop the beeper going off).
Drivers seat red, but passenger seat black in the one I drive. Hope they didn’t pay extra to get it that way as the drivers seatbelt is the exact same shade of red as our polo shirts! 
Harry Monk:
So the office Gestapo can check if you are wearing it as you drive out of the yard.
Thanks guys for the replies, i suspected it had something to do with proof of wearing one.
Harry Monk:
AndrewG:
Out of interest, do you all wear them in the UK? I know its easy pickings nicking car drivers but whats the score with the police with trucks? Is it rigorously enforced?I wear it, but the Polish bloke who drives my truck at night doesn’t. (I know this because the clasp is always plugged into the socket in the morning, to stop the beeper going off).
I just have the clasp of an old belt plugged in…havent been able to find the beeper yet… 
I think it’s something to do with it being easier to spot by the police etc, black ones hard to see depending what driver wearing but red stands out unless driver has red t shirt on, but even so bits of the seat belt would still stand out if being worn by red shirt trucker.
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Cruise Control:
I think it’s something to do with it being easier to spot by the police etc, black ones hard to see depending what driver wearing but red stands out unless driver has red t shirt on, but even so bits of the seat belt would still stand out if being worn by red shirt trucker.Sent from my SM-T330 using Tapatalk
There both red in my ECX. Been done twice in Belgium recently at 120 euros a pop, but suppose once is unlucky, twice is stupid
Not sure if it’s correct or not. But I heard it was the petrochemical industry that started fitting the red belts so it was easier to see if their drivers were wearing them on the way out of the depot.
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Allways wear mine as soon as I’m on the road, apart from it being the law. Many trucks now have air bags, now I’m not sure whether the air bag would go off in the event of an accident if the belt isn’t been used, but if it does then that will be an even more unpleasant experience than it would be, if you aren’t retrained. If it doesn’t and you wish to put in a work related compensation claim after an accident, and you are entitled to do so as you are at work, the insurers will use anything to cut down your claim, and not wearing a seat belt will be at the top of the list. This happened to a driver at a firm I worked for about 12 years ago.
Another point to consider is hijacking 
, don’t start shouting. If you have forgotten to lock your doors, and someone with criminal intent opens it surprising you in the process, they can grab your right arm and have out of that seat before you have a chance to react, with the seat belt on, you aren’t going anywhere, and get split second to take control with a swift lump of steel toecap to the assailants face. It does happen 
I also remember that in late 90’s a truck driver was involved in a crash on the M25 above gate 29, the driver driving an ERF which was not fitted with seat belts, the drivers door flew open during the crash and the driver was flung out threw it straight over the bridge parapet landing on the A 127 below, he died from his injuries. He had no choice whether to wear a belt or not, as they weren’t fitted, and at that time they were only starting to be fitted in new trucks, I just happened to get a new truck at that time which had belts fitted, so started to use them.
eddie snax:
Allways wear mine as soon as I’m on the road, apart from it being the law. Many trucks now have air bags, now I’m not sure whether the air bag would go off in the event of an accident if the belt isn’t been used, but if it does then that will be an even more unpleasant experience than it would be, if you aren’t retrained. If it doesn’t and you wish to put in a work related compensation claim after an accident, and you are entitled to do so as you are at work, the insurers will use anything to cut down your claim, and not wearing a seat belt will be at the top of the list. This happened to a driver at a firm I worked for about 12 years ago.Another point to consider is hijacking
The airbags would trigger even if the seat belt wasnt being used. Theres also an explosive charge in a tube next to the seat belt stalk,this is the seat belt pretensioner and is directly linked to the airbag circuit…
Some "portly"drivers plug in the seatbelt then sit down that way the bleeper doesnt go off.The red belts clash with green uniforms b.t.w.
AndrewG:
eddie snax:
Allways wear mine as soon as I’m on the road, apart from it being the law. Many trucks now have air bags, now I’m not sure whether the air bag would go off in the event of an accident if the belt isn’t been used, but if it does then that will be an even more unpleasant experience than it would be, if you aren’t retrained. If it doesn’t and you wish to put in a work related compensation claim after an accident, and you are entitled to do so as you are at work, the insurers will use anything to cut down your claim, and not wearing a seat belt will be at the top of the list. This happened to a driver at a firm I worked for about 12 years ago.:
The airbags would trigger even if the seat belt wasnt being used. Theres also an explosive charge in a tube next to the seat belt stalk,this is the seat belt pretensioner and is directly linked to the airbag circuit…
From I’m lead to believe having an air bag go off isn’t very pleasant when you are wearing a belt, so I reckon that’s going to be bloody dangerous without a belt on
Not 100% sure but a red belt may be part of the FORS requirements on new vehicles.
eddie snax:
AndrewG:
eddie snax:
Allways wear mine as soon as I’m on the road, apart from it being the law. Many trucks now have air bags, now I’m not sure whether the air bag would go off in the event of an accident if the belt isn’t been used, but if it does then that will be an even more unpleasant experience than it would be, if you aren’t retrained. If it doesn’t and you wish to put in a work related compensation claim after an accident, and you are entitled to do so as you are at work, the insurers will use anything to cut down your claim, and not wearing a seat belt will be at the top of the list. This happened to a driver at a firm I worked for about 12 years ago.:
The airbags would trigger even if the seat belt wasnt being used. Theres also an explosive charge in a tube next to the seat belt stalk,this is the seat belt pretensioner and is directly linked to the airbag circuit…
From I’m lead to believe having an air bag go off isn’t very pleasant when you are wearing a belt, so I reckon that’s going to be bloody dangerous without a belt on
An airbag will split open its cover sending bits of plastic everywhere (steering wheel and passenger side dash) so yes its very likely you’ll get cuts from the plastic ‘shrapnel’. I doubt it would make much difference with or without a belt on tbh though…
Cruise Control:
I think it’s something to do with it being easier to spot by the police etc, black ones hard to see depending what driver wearing but red stands out unless driver has red t shirt on, but even so bits of the seat belt would still stand out if being worn by red shirt trucker.Sent from my SM-T330 using Tapatalk
do the police have a list of which trucks are fitted with red belts ?
Would be very surprised if it ever became law re red belts. Interiors are colour co ordinated, someone speccing a top notch full grey/black leather interior isnt going to want red belts…
red belts means black jumper with red stripe…black belt means red jumper with black stripe…get your misses to knit you a pair of them for xmas…that might work?
personally i never wear one unless sometimes abroad depending on who might be looking,and then it comes back off again…