Rear seatbelts to be compulsory

Monday 17 December 2018

As the States of Guernsey have agreed the island will opt in to the Vienna Convention, new rules for motoring will have to be introduced locally.

A form of MOT style testing is one of the major additions, which will see cars tested every three years once they reach five years old. Some public service vehicles will need testing more frequently.

'Pavement surfing' which is already illegal under Guernsey's 1929 motoring law, will continue to be an offence. 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. During last week's States debate on ratifying the Vienna Convention, both Deputy Barry Brehaut, the Environment and Infrastructure President, and Deputy Mary Lowe, the Home Affairs President, discussed driving on pavements. 

Speaking to Express after the debate, Deputy Brehaut said once the island is covered by the Vienna Convention, Guernsey Police will have to "determine in every instance, as ever it's a question of enforcement. There will have to be a degree of discretion, as with all enforcement."

He also confirmed that "rear seatbelts will become compulsory" under the new rules. 

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

Currently, adult passengers only have to wear a seatbelt in the front seat of cars, while children and young adults have to wear one by law in the back too. 

It will become a legal requirement for all passengers to wear a seatbelt in the rear of the car  by 2023, which is the latest the Vienna Convention is expected to be introduced in full in Guernsey.

Jersey has already agreed to adopt the Vienna Convention too, meaning the two largest Channel Islands will join the UK which is already under the Convention. The Isle of Man won't be joining the other Crown Dependencies though, with Deputy Barry Brehaut saying it doesn't need to. 

"The Isle Of Man sits between Ireland, which is a member of the EU and has existing higher standards and the U.K. who are ratifying Vienna. Jersey have ratified so it would make sense for the Channel Islands to be seen as one compliant area."

Deputy Brehaut also reiterated that Guernsey will not be introducing full MOT's as enforced in the UK. Rather, we will have MOT style tests.

He said they will be a 'periodic inspection', for cars from when they are five years old, every three years and that drivers should be able to add it on to their annual service when necessary.

Pictured: The news last week that French hospitals may be used to offer more orthopaedic treatments to deal with growing demand in Guernsey. 

With the news last week that the Committee for Health and Social Care is looking at using French hospitals to offer orthopaedic treatments as demand continues to grow in Guernsey, it is thought likely that people who hadn't previously thought they may need to travel to France might need to do so.

Under the Vienna Convention, all cars will be confirmed fit for driving on the continent.

Pictured top: Rear seatbelts for adult passengers will be compulsory under new motoring laws being introduced in Guernsey.