Testing seat belts

Your AE needs a kick in the nuts. 

I’m not sure I understand, if the centre belt has been cut away with only those stubs still there then that would be a pass. The one outboard would fail, but if they removed/cut that belt out as long as there is one outboard seat with a working belt it passes

I’d have a good look at appendix C, particularly -

N In forward facing rear seats:
A three-point inertia reel belt in at least one seat, or any of the following in both seats:
- three-point belt
- lap belt
- disabled person’s belt

But if they are fitted at the time of test, they must be tested. if the customer chooses to remove them fully, then the minimum criteria can be applied. This discussion has been put forwards before. 

7.1.2. Seat belt fitment and condition


You must check any visible parts of:



all seat belts fitted

all child seat restraints fitted

You do not need to inspect:



a belt fitted with no corresponding seat

a buckle or stalk with no corresponding belt

You should lift folded seats to inspect seat belts. However, you do not have to do this if you’d need tools to do it. If you cannot lift seats because there are heavy or fragile items on the seat, you can refuse to test the vehicle. For details, see item 4d in the Introduction.



You do not need to inspect buckles or stalks with no corresponding belt.



Where a child seat is fitted that prevents access to the seat belt buckle, you must check as much of the seat belt as possible and issue an advisory that the buckle could not be checked.

Given that parts of the belt were still fitted, and the buckle was still fitted, I took the view the belt is damaged. if then the belt is removed completely it would pass. I was always lead to believe that all belts must be tested initially.