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Jack.. I would like your opinion please. Recently I was declined a WOF on the grounds that my seat
belt retraction was not up to scratch. I was informed it was a new regulation / requirement. This is a new on me, is it correct?
The car in question is a 1993 Toyota Corolla without airbags. It seems to me that the belt retraction is
working, allbeit slowly, but it does retract and it does lock under pressure. The belt itself is not frayed.

Thanking you in advance for your advice.

Regards,

Glenice

Seat belt retraction is part of a WoF inspection check (where applicable) and has been for some time.

In summary, the inspector should check for the speed of retraction, the consistency of the retraction and whether or not the belt retracts fully.

When a seat belt is working normally, the webbing should automatically retract to sit against the driver/passenger shoulder and hip area when the belt is connected. Obviously the belt needs to shorten or lengthen according to the size of the person occupying a particular seat.

If the belt does not retract properly when fitted, the danger is the occupant will be propelled forward before the seat belt locks automatically under the inertia of the vehicle stopping quickly. The quicker the belt locks the less chance of injury to the user.

Sometimes the fix is relatively simply; the belt may have a twist that needs removing or the points at which the belt webbing passes may need realigning or cleaning.

You need to get your preferred repairer to have a look to see how simple or involved a job it is.

Ok, Thanks for that Jack. I have a better understanding of what is required now, better now than how it was put to me by reception.