Belt up!

Friday 29 March 2019

From today all passengers sitting in the back seat of cars need to wear seatbelts - and Guernsey Police have clarified the new law for taxi passengers.

The changes are down to Guernsey having to adopt the Vienna Convention, as a result of Brexit, so that local drivers can continue taking their cars to the continent. This means the island also has to accept a number of changes to pre-existing motoring laws.

Pictured: The law change was agreed by the States last year meaning that from today, all back seat passengers have to 'clunk click' with children having to be seated using the correct restraints as before.

As agreed by the States at the end of last year, the Vienna Convention will also see cars tested every three years once they reach five years old. Some public service vehicles will need testing more frequently.

Speaking to Express after the debate, Deputy Barry Brehaut, the President of Environment and Infrastructure, also confirmed then that "rear seatbelts will become compulsory" under the new rules. That law comes into effect now. 

'Pavement surfing' which is already illegal under Guernsey's 1929 motoring law, will continue to be an offence under the Convention. The Guernsey law states that drivers can mount the pavement to allow another vehicle to pass, but there are often concerns raised about drivers mounting and continuing to drive along the pavement, sometimes at speed. 

Pictured: Some of the 'General Rules' for driving under the Vienna Convention. 

With the seatbelt law change coming in, a number of questions have been asked about how taxis will be affected. While adults will be expected to wear a seatbelt in the backseat of taxis from now on, it wasn't previously clear how the new law would affect younger passengers with most taxis not carrying booster or baby car seats. 

The Committee for Home Affairs which oversees law enforcement in the island has said there is an Exemption Order for taxis and private hire vehicles which covers younger passengers. 

In summary the impact of the Exemption Order in relation to Taxis and private hire vehicles is as follows: 

• Children under 3, if there is no appropriate seat belt (car/booster seat) , may travel in the rear provided they are accompanied by an adult who assumes responsibility for that child;
• Children aged 3 or over, if there is no appropriate seat belt (car/booster seat), they should wear and adults seat belt; 

Home Affairs said; "The Committee recognises that the safest way for any child to travel is with an appropriate booster or car seat and belt.  However, it considers that the Exemption Order is a practical solution to ensure that families and children can continue to be passengers in taxis and private hire vehicles on the Island.  The Committee acknowledges this exemption does not impact on parents ability to make  informed decision about how their children travel as they do now.”