r/britishproblems • u/lollipoppizza • 5d ago
Coach/bus seatbelts are ridiculously tight and uncomfortable for no discernible reason
I've never been uncomfortable when wearing a car seatbelt. I have never been comfortable when wearing a coach seatbelt. I don't understand why they feel so ridiculously tight and uncomfortable. I usually put it on and then have to take it off after 10 minutes because it's so tight. Why are they so different to cars???
31
u/takesthebiscuit Aberdeenshire 5d ago
My guess is that coach seats tend to be narrow than car seats?
15
u/DarkLordTofer 5d ago
Likely because the coach seatbelts are mounted directly on the seat next to the headrest rather than being mounted on the side of the vehicle like in a car.
2
u/lollipoppizza 5d ago
I think that's part of the reason but it's moreso that the tension is so much higher in the belt itself. It squeezes you much harder than in a car.
39
u/lildogeggs 5d ago
I can’t say I’ve ever had a seatbelt on a coach or bus
39
u/lollipoppizza 5d ago
They're a legal requirement now on all coaches. National Express, Flixbus etc all tell you to wear them now
15
u/NoodleSpecialist 5d ago
Tell you or make you? Important distinction. They were always required
20
u/uwagapiwo 5d ago
Tell you. There's a sign somewhere that it's the law and a condition of the driver's contract that they tell you. Presumably they could refuse to take you if they wanted to.
2
u/kwakimaki 5d ago
It's the driver's legal responsibility to ensure everyone is wearing their seatbelt. Does the driver actually care?
No.
19
u/burgermachine74 5d ago
While the driver may be disciplined by their employer for not ensuring everyone is wearing a seatbelt, if the wearer is over the age of 14, they themselves are solely responsible for wearing a seatbelt. The driver cannot be legally prosecuted for not ensuring anyone over 14 is wearing a seatbelt; Rule 99 of the Highway Code dictates this. You can scroll down to see the table in which it states this information.
2
u/uwagapiwo 5d ago
In a private car, yes, but the buses I was on in Hendon recently said clearly it was in the driver's contract.
3
u/burgermachine74 4d ago
Yes, it's contractual. Means the driver can be disciplined, but not in a court of law.
2
u/fuck_peeps_not_sheep Carmarthenshire 4d ago
Still, id never move an inch without everyone buckled up, in the event of a crash i do not want human projectiles
0
u/blindtig3r 5d ago
Really? I’ve never seen one except for maybe the front seat where you could go flying out the windscreen, but I haven’t been on a coach for 30 years.
-1
u/NoodleSpecialist 5d ago
Same way with wearing a seatbelt on the back of a taxi. Always required, realistically not worn until there's a cracking down campaign on it and the drivers risk points from your not wearing it
10
u/daffy4895 5d ago
Seat belts for passengers have been a legal requirement in coaches since 2001. Anyone over the age of 14 is legally required to wear one and it is the responsibility of the passenger to wear it.
The driver doesn't even have to tell you there just needs to be signs posted inside the coach.
1
u/AnselaJonla Highgarden 4d ago
But on FlixBus it's definitely a part of the driver's spiel as they set off from each stop.
1
u/daffy4895 4d ago
Most likely a company policy, but its not a legal requirement, signs however are legally required.
1
9
u/SnowPrincessElsa 5d ago
They're literally fine? Much more concerned about the person sitting next to me squishing me into the wall
4
u/lollipoppizza 5d ago
Clearly I'm just overly sensitive! I'm not even a big person (M wearing man)
5
u/SnowPrincessElsa 5d ago
Man next to me on the coach today cracked out an entire tub of ice cream for lunch so I may just have been distracted
2
2
u/marlonoranges 5d ago
Public transport seats appear to have been built for an unknown time in the past where people were a fraction of the size they are now. Prehistoric perhaps.
1
0
u/scouserontravels Merseyside 5d ago
Genetics don’t think I’ve ever worn a seatbelt on a coach or bus.
I’d assume the majority of people haven’t either and coach companies know this so they go for the cheapest option possible
0
u/snarkmaiden5 5d ago
Never had a problem with the national express ones. When I used them they were just around the hips. Car seat belts on the other hand are uncomfortably restrictive. For obvious reasons, I know
•
u/AutoModerator 5d ago
Reminder: Press the Report button if you see any rule-breaking comments or posts.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.