seatbelt laws and children seats

[rb71]

Hello everyone,

I'm very close to switching to a A class. But I have young kids (2 6 and 1 10 year old ) and was wondering what the seatbelt laws are.

I did some quick Web searching but nothing was clear on boosters or not.

Thanks Bobby

[kalynzoo]

I think you will find that a motorhome is considered a home by law enforcement and regulations. The people in the cab must be properly restrained. Behind the cab there really are no regulations. You can have open alcohol in the frig or in the living room cupboard, you can have the TV going, a firearm in the back might not have the same regulations as one transported in a car (States have their own rules). Seat belt and child seats are similarly not required. To the best of my knowledge there have been no test regarding the safety of a seat belt in a motorhome. A tummy belt, without shoulder restraint will do what to a sidewise facing human body at sudden deceleration? Buses do not have seat belts or child seats...probably more for economic reasons rather than proven safety. I am not implying what is best, what is safe, or what is proper...only that many will present their personal feelings about child safety as fact. The fact is that studies have not given an answer.
Just keep in mind the rule of the lugnuts: "The vehicle with the most lugnuts wins"
Be safe, and Happy Trails.

[xctraveler]

Are you looking for Law or Safety. Technically in most motorhomes only the front two seats are considered vehicle seating and require appropriate seat belts. Other seat belts appear to me to be useless as two persons sitting sideways on a sofa with lap belts or at a table booth do not have much protection from a sudden stop or rear end. Recliners, even bolted to the floor are not much better.

If you want safety, you may need to search out a coach that is engineered with safe belted seating in the house body. Haven't seen one, but I haven't looked, mostly it's just the two of us.

[DrewE]

It varies from state to state, and is not always the same laws as for cars (though I suspect that's the more usual case). In Florida, for one example, the usual seat belt law does not apply to motorhomes.

Be aware that booster seats (i.e. ones that do not have their own belts attached to them that secure the child to the seat) should not be used on seats without shoulder belts. They work by positioning the child and the vehicle seat belt properly in relation to each other. With no shoulder belt, they can't work properly.

I doubt any child seat is rated for use when facing sideways, and probably few for a rearward-facing seat.

[2gypsies1]

Children and adults should not be free to roam around a motorhome. One quick stop and they'd be sent flying. I'd secure them like you do in a car/truck no matter what the rules are.

[dons2346]

Same as a car