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From: cline@aero.ARPA (Ken Cline)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Harnesses vs. plain old seatbelts
Message-ID: <429@aero.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 11-Sep-85 21:44:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: aero.429
Posted: Wed Sep 11 21:44:51 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Sep-85 03:33:06 EDT
References: <2778@harpo.UUCP> <149@emacs.uucp> <226@twitch.UUCP>
Reply-To: cline@aero.ARPA (Ken Cline)
Organization: The Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, CA
Lines: 22

I would like to know the real differences between different kinds of
harnesses for street use.  I find a lap belt adequate at keeping me in my
seat in place while turning my fwd gerbil box with long tread life radials
(which I occationally drive somewhat hard).  However, I question the security
of a conventional lap belt/shoulder harness system.

In particular:

    o Are the inertial seat belts less safe than the kind that remain static.
      (they are certainly more convienent some of the time).

    o Is the added confinement of a four point harness valuable in a
      collision?  (i.e. can you fall out of the should part in a sideways
      impact,  can the shoulder belt cause injury from bad placement?)

    o Is there any reason to use a five point harness in a street car?

Harnesses are certainly pretty looking in sporty cars.  And they are
required by many (all?) serious racing orgainzations, even for showroom
stock class cars.  Enlighten me further...

Ken	Cline@Aerospace.ARPA


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