Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2004 20:49:22 -0900
Reply-To: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject: Re: small car VW engine conversion
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Tom,
Studies have shown that having lap belts only can do more harm then not wearing a seatbelt, even
for rear seat passengers. If the lap belt does not fit the passenger correctly, or is out of position it can cause major internal damage. Shoulder belts are designed to prevent this, that is why they have been standard equipment on US cars since around 1990. The disgusting part is that the government required the automobile manufacturers to install the upper belt anchors in the early 70's, yet did not require the belts themselves for for another 15-20 years.
Mark in AK
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Miller <tmiller@VCMAILS.COM>
Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 7:01 am
Subject: Re: small car VW engine conversion
> Shoulder belts keep you from hitting the dashboard in the front
> seats. As
> far as the back seat is concerned, the last time I looked, there
> is about 5
> feet of space between the back seat bench and the front seats so
> shoulderbelts do little unless you have the table extended to play
> games or
> something.
> TEMiller
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Andrew Grebneff" <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2004 5:01 PM
> Subject: Re: small car VW engine conversion
>
>
> > >Great article. But what does it say about me, a 47YO male who
> drives> >conservatively (25mph) through the neighborhoods, always
> aware of the
> > >dangers that present themselves. On the highway, I do keep
> enough room
> > >between me and the car in front, am always looking for the
> idiot who
> tries
> > >to sideswipe me, and keep the speed down to about 72. Yet I
> still drive a
> 2
> > >door exploder not to be isolated from the road, but to have
> enough room
> to
> > >haul two kids, a SO, and two large dogs. And it's still safer
> than my
> > >Vanagon where the idjit VW designer/beancounters decided
> shoulderbeltscost
> > >too much money to put in, so my kids never get to ride in it
> anymore.>
> > Shoulder belts are standard on all of my 84's outboard seats.
> >
> > Exploder...safe?? Any vehicle which handles so abysmally is dead
> unsafe.> --
> > Andrew Grebneff
> > Dunedin, New Zealand
> > 64 (3) 473-8863
> > <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
> > Fossil preparator
> > Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut
> > --------------------------------------
> > A: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation.
> > Q: Why is top posting frowned upon?
> >
>
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