How dangerous is this seating arrangement?

Hi, would like your thoughts on this. I work for the LGA in highways deparment as a roadworker. I drive a new merc LGV which came with 2 seats. Our management in their wisdom decided to put in a 3rd seat as sometimes we need 3 men on a job.
Personally i think its not safe and not good health and safety as the guy in the middle has to sit with legs sideways in the passenger footwell. Already had 2 guys complain it not good on their backs and my thinking is if I was ever in an accident the dash is going come straight in their shins/knees as there is no space in front of them for things to crumple in. Have raised my concerns with the transport manager but from his reaction/answer it was not his doing but his boss and the highways manager. see pics

I suspect its most probably illegal also

thanx, maybe someone with more knowledge of the law can help

If the V5 is says 2 seats then that's the way it has to be, not 3.

What's the model number of the van?

Pretty sure its this one, says centre seat is optional http://www.mercedes-benz.com/conten...bject.Single.File.tmp/CV 517_Single pages.pdf

There maybe an option, but the internal configuration maybe different though to allow the 3rd seat to be positioned in a safe position.

http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/con...odel/axor/cabs/l-cab_with_high_roof.0003.html

tell the boss to take a seat and go for a spin,legs have no room and does he want a claim against company if the worst happensroud:

doesn't look dangerous, You sure the steat dosnt move back any more?


Looks similar to the 3rd seat in the sprinter van my dad had a while back, it moved though and you could sit normal in it.

Joe1989 said:

doesn't look dangerous, You sure the steat dosnt move back any more?


Looks similar to the 3rd seat in the sprinter van my dad had a while back, it moved though and you could sit normal in it.

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No the seat dont move its static, only the back of seat will recline. If you have feet less than 10cm long and legs no more than 25 long then you could probably seat in there quite normal

cactikid said:

tell the boss to take a seat and go for a spin,legs have no room and does he want a claim against company if the worst happensroud:

Click to expand...

boss is too busy driving round in his hired 4x4(courtesy of the LGA) cause his car cant get around on the roads as they are gritting with a 50/50 mix of sharp sand and rock salt. Poor residents in the borough only getting their bins filled with sharp sand, only problem being, its freezing and they have one big lump of frozen sand in the bin.

You ever been in a nissan cabstar? My knees used to touch the dash in that wasn't illegal.

My knees touch the back of seats on the bus and airplanes that aint illegal either.

I am no expert but that doesn't look right to me !

:|

Looks like the only legal requirement is that the seat is fixed securely...nothing mentioned about legroom etc..

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