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Is a 6 and below berth campervan allowed to carry 7 passengers in New Zealand? Is it legal?

9 October 2009 3 Comments
campervan
Yee asked:


I’m travelling on a budget trip to New Zealand this year end.

Inexpensive websites

3 Comments »

  • jennifer h said:

    No you can’t there would only be 6 seat belts. and a six berth with 6 passengers is a real cramp . Get two 4 berths or just hire a van that takes more passengers and stay at backpackers.

  • Princesspea said:

    There must be enough seatbelts for each passenger (although you don’t actually need to be wearing them!). Further to that, there must be at least equal or more seatbelts. So a 6 berth van must have at least 6 seatbelts.

    I think though, if it had 7 belts that would let you travel.

    But there must be at least the minimum number of seatbelts to match the berth.

  • johno said:

    Travelling with seven people in a six berth campervan is not illegal. However you should bear the following in mind:

    1. All modern campervans are required to have seatbelts equal to the number of designated berths.

    2. Any passenger sitting in a seat that has a seat belt fitted must wear that seat belt. Although dangerous, sitting while travelling in a seat where there is no seat belt fitted is not an offence.

    3. Check your terms and conditions of hire. You will generally find that travelling with more passengers than there are berths will void any insurance covering the vehicle and your passengers. Any accident that is deemed to be your fault will turn a budget holiday into a very expensive one.

    4. You’re in a foreign country with a number of different road rules. You’re are travelling on unfamiliar roads which are often country roads that are winding and not maintained to highway standards. You are driving a vehicle that is large and cumbersome. Travelling without wearing a seatbelt is not very bright. New Zealand’s Accident Compensation laws will prevent you from suing anyone for any meaningful amount for personal injury regardless of who is at fault.

    A couple of reference links below.

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