Picture this scenario. You are in your motorhome, and you fancy a sandwich and a cup of tea. The issue is whether you should just patiently wait until you are at a point when the motorhome is not moving. In this article, we will be looking at the legal aspect and the safety aspect of this decision, as well as what other motorhome owners do. We hope that this article will point you in the right direction with regards to the decision you will make it about whether to walk in a motorhome. As well as that, Caravan Helper hope that the article is interesting as well.
Legal Issues
If your caravan was manufactured after 2006, all seats you have previously identified and designated as travel seats must have seatbelts. You are required by law to remain there if your motorhome is moving. For motorhomes built after October 1988 and before 2006, seatbelts must be fitted for the driver and any forward-facing passengers. Again, if your motorhome is moving, the seatbelts must always be used. If your caravan is from before any of the previously mentioned dates, the driver must wear a seatbelt, as well as the front passenger. It is legal for a back passenger to not wear a seatbelt unless the motorhome is travelling at high speeds.
Safety Issues
If you do get up, and the driver hits the breaks, then you could fall. Risks include falling out of the windscreen, and deaths have occurred. Although you might not die or get severely injured, getting out of your seat can result in a lot of damage. As soon as the direction or the acceleration of the motorhome changes, a force is inflicted upon the caravan. Depending on how sharp the change is, the force could extremely brutal. We have all been in a car and something falls when the car speedily accelerates. Imagine that instead of your phone going on the car carpet, it was you against the wall, or even worse.
The Reality
Now, bearing this all in mind, people still move around in motorhomes. Some are even okay as they do it. They make sure that the road ahead has a low amount of traffic, and is long and straight, reducing the risk of any changes in forces that could cause them to fall. Although it generally considered to be bad safety and would make any safety expert cringe, many even cook and bake while the caravan is moving.
When you do stop, you still have the luxury of remaining in your home. It is different to when you are in your car, having to make pit stops with all your luxuries miles away and carrying your pets and belongings.
Most couples who own motorhomes talk amongst each other about what they feel is safe and what is unsafe. Just remember the safety issues of falling, getting injured and breaking your property, as well as the law regarding seatbelts.