Rotary release harnesses and MOTs

[BenLowden]

I've been made aware that having a rotary/quick-release harness buckle may cause issues come MOT time as they're not VOSA approved. I'm a bit shocked as I thought loads of people would run track cars on the road with these harnesses, anyone had any issues before?

[battered]

Officially it's a fail. Most stations will pass them.

[CrutyRammers]

Don't think that's true anymore. For iva, certainly, they insisted on ce or bs approval for about a year. rotary buckles were all on race harnesses which had fia approval but not the others, so fell through the gap. Then vosa updated their rules to say that fia approval was also fine.
There's nothing about rotary buckles specifically in the rules, nor has there ever been AFAIK.
My kit car passed vosa iva inspection with rotary buckles as have many others. they are absolutely fine.

[battered]

They are *officially* a fail because there's a reqmt that the belt has to be able to be fitted with 1 hand. Yes, I know that you generally can wrestle on a 6 point harness one-handed but it's generally considered by testers and the guidance that you can't, or not easily enough to meet the regulation.

However, like I said, testers generally overlook this.

[AdiT]

I thought they just had to be released with one hand. If they have to be fastened with one hand a lot of old 3point fixed (non-inertia) belts would fail on classics where the buckle isn't on a stalk.

[Elderly]

Mine passed its mot last week.

[battered]

AdiT said:

I thought they just had to be released with one hand. If they have to be fastened with one hand a lot of old 3point fixed (non-inertia) belts would fail on classics where the buckle isn't on a stalk.

No, done up on a modern car. Oldies get grandad rights, like no rear belts pre 87 (ish), no belts at all pre 66 (iirc, give or take), no hazards pre whenever, and the rest.

[CrutyRammers]

Well, the manual is here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

Section 5. Nothing anywhere about rotary buckles, or fitting with one hand, at all, as far as I can see.
There is a requirement in IVA about releasing with one hand, and adjusting with one hand; and presumably something similar in type approval, but nothing about doing it up with one hand.

Aside from that, they simply can't be a fail point at MOT if vosa (as was) states that they are allowed in the rules for vehical approval.

[petermac]

And said document in Section 5.1 paras 8 and 9 says:

8. 3 Point belt
“3 point belt” means a seat belt which:

restrains the upper and lower parts of the torso

includes a lap belt

is anchored at not less than three points

is designed for use by an adult.

9. Adult harness belts

Adult harness belts comprising a lap belt and shoulder straps are an acceptable alternative to any
of the seat belt types listed



And there is no mention of how the belt(s) are to be fastened.

[BenLowden]

Perfect, thanks all! That's my decision made then, rotary release it is Luckily the Clio isn't my daily otherwise it might get a bit frustrating if you're just nipping out, but I think having proper click in harnesses adds to the event of the drive.

[CrutyRammers]

It absolutely does - once you get past the initial fumbling around stage where you feel a right tit failing to do it up in the petrol station