Yorkshire dealer campaigns for new campervan conversion laws

The laws on campervan conversions could soon be changing thanks to a safety campaign launched by Yorkshire convertor Darren Bebb.

Bebb, who manages Salop Vans’ sister company Bebb Limited, met with Mike Penning, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, last week to discuss legislation surrounding converted Volkswagen campervans.

Mr Bebb believes that new motorhome laws introduced early this year are not strict enough for campervan conversions, as owners of vehicles registered before 1st April 2012 are under no obligation to carry out safety changes in line with the new rules.

“Around 100 vehicles per week get converted in the UK and I estimate that only about five per cent comply with the new standards that were introduced on April 1,” said Darren, whose local MP Daniel Kawczynski joined him for the government meeting.

Among the worst safety offences Bebb has seen are campervans without seatbelts or fitted with seat bed systems that are potentially lethal. 

While he waits for government feedback on his concerns, Darren will be concentrating on another safety project – designing, testing and manufacturing a seat bed that exceeds the new regulation requirements.

Coast insures many different types of campervan, including conversions that have been approved following an engineer’s report. For a campervan insurance quotation call Coast’s friendly sales team on Freephone 0800 614 849.