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Hi Jack

This is probably a silly question and possibly highly illegal but I can't seem to find the rules anywhere. I have a 1992 townace and it has no seats in the back can I take more than just the front seat passenger.

The van looks like it does have mounting points for a seat but none fitted.

Thanks,
Michael

Hi Michael,

Under the Road User Rule, a driver must not operate a vehicle in a manner liable to cause injury to any person, and that applies to vans because the passengers are not sitting in a designated seat securely fitted to the vehicle. Nor are they belted in – and seatbelts must be worn if fitted.

Other than cars manufactured before 1955 (pre-1980 in the case of rear seats) light vehicles must have seatbelts fitted to every seating position. No seatbelt = no seating position.

If there are seat mounting points in your Townace and you can find a rear seat taken from an identical vehicle, then there is nothing to stop you simply bolting it in. You need to be very careful however that you don’t fit more seats than the van is classified for.

For example, if the van is currently registered NA (commercial) then seat belts are not required whereas if you were to add several extra rows of seats then the class would change to MA and seat belts would be required.

If you were to add seatbelts then you would need a certified seat belt installer to sign off the fitment.

Use common sense Michael. I’m sure you would never forgive yourself if unrestrained passengers were hurt in a van you were driving.