Recurring concern
Inadequate vehicle occupant restraint systems
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Request correctionFirst reported 17 Apr 2014•Latest report 14 Apr 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures of controls specifically dedicated to restraining vehicle occupants, including provision and design of operator or passenger restraints, secure anchorage, restraint requirements and alarms or equivalent controls that detect disengagement, across road, agricultural, public-transport and comparable vehicles.
Not included
- Excludes generic vehicle approval, maintenance, driving, seating-comfort or collision-risk concerns where no vehicle occupant-restraint deficiency is identified.
- Excludes restraints used in police custody, patient transport or other non-vehicle restraint contexts unless the assertion concerns restraint of an occupant during vehicle travel.
- Excludes child-seat, wheelchair-securing or specialist restraint systems when the report supports a separately named and narrower safety concern.
- Excludes vehicle design, barriers, handholds or general collision-impact mitigation where no occupant-restraint control is deficient.
- Reports
- 13
- Individual concerns
- 16
- Date range
- 2014–2026
- Stated actions
- 14
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to assess and maintain adequate vehicle occupant-restraint fit for the wheelchair and wheelchair user
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of legal requirements for restraint of passengers travelling in the rear areas of motorhomes
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Require seat belts for all travelling seats in newly registered motor caravans and identify unsuitable unbelted seats with signage.
Stated by Department for Transport -
Action
Publish guidance advising motor-caravan passengers to use forward- or rearward-facing seats equipped with three-point seat belts.
Stated by Department for Transport
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
The existing regulatory framework is considered proportionate and sufficient for the range and age of motor caravans operating on the roads.
Stated by Department for Transport
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Concerns raised1
Lack of required rear-area seat-belt restraint in motorhomes
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
The existing regulatory framework is considered proportionate and sufficient for the range and age of motor caravans operating on roads.
Stated by Department for Transport
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Concerns raised1
Lack of required passenger seatbelts on buses undertaking predominantly rural, high-speed journeys
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Write to the Confederation of Passenger Transport highlighting appropriate vehicle selection, including consideration of seat-belt-fitted vehicles.
Stated by Department for Transport -
Action
Write to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner to raise awareness of appropriate vehicle selection and seat-belt provision.
Stated by Department for Transport
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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Position
The existing regulatory framework provides appropriate and proportionate safeguards, so no broader regulatory change is considered necessary.
Stated by Department for Transport
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Position
Standard-service operators are responsible for choosing vehicles appropriate to the intended operation; local authorities may specify vehicle requirements for contracted services.
Stated by Department for Transport -
Position
Traffic commissioners must determine whether their powers can restrict particular buses from particular roads through Traffic Regulation Conditions.
Stated by Department for Transport
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Concerns raised1
Failure to secure patients safely in the transport vehicle
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure of employees to wear vehicle seat belts
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of a legal requirement for riders of this class of vehicle to wear seatbelts
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Seat belts are expected to offer few benefits for motor tricycles and may exacerbate injuries by closely coupling riders to vehicles in collisions.
Stated by Department for Transport
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Concerns raised2
HSE guidance suggesting that operator seat restraints may not be needed or are inappropriate for self-propelled sprayers
Lack of appropriate operator seat restraints on self-propelled sprayers
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Consider revising HSE guidance wording to better inform vehicle choice when working on slopes.
Stated by Health and Safety Executive -
Action
Redesign sprayer cabs to include seat restraints and fit one to every vehicle before it leaves the workshop.
Stated by R.J. Bateman (Engineering) Limited -
Action
Raise seat-restraint concerns at the next appropriate agricultural machinery safety standards meeting for consideration in future revisions.
Stated by Health and Safety Executive
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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Position
Guidance cannot recommend seat restraints for non-ROPS vehicles because restraints may increase injury risk during overturns.
Stated by Health and Safety Executive
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Position
The secure cab enclosure was considered sufficient to protect drivers without requiring operator seat restraints.
Stated by R.J. Bateman (Engineering) Limited -
Position
Universal seat restraints cannot be advocated because restraints may increase overturn injury risk where sprayers lack suitable ROPS.
Stated by Health and Safety Executive
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Concerns raised1
Failure of senior officers to enforce safety harness standing orders
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Issue safety directions to commanding officers of units equipped with wheeled armoured vehicles.
Stated by Ministry of Defence
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Concerns raised2
Failure to prohibit use of seat-belt clips producing loose and ineffective seat belts
Continued sale of seat-belt clips that produce loose and ineffective seat belts
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026