Date:         Tue, 15 Jun 2004 23:46:13 -0600
Reply-To:     jbrush@AROS.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Anonymous Digest <jbrush@AROS.NET>
Subject:      Re: Non-Family Hauler / rear lap belts are much more safe than no
              belt
In-Reply-To:  <40CF7430.50304@bellsouth.net>

>Anonymous Digest wrote:

I hate the way this makes me look anonymous :-)

>>
>John, she survived the accident relatively intact. Broken kneecap was  the
>single worst injury. Lesson learned.

I am glad I misread that part and that she was not seriously injured.

>She still had the lap portion of the belt across har lap, but by sliding  the
>shoulder harness down, she defeated the purpose of the shoulder  restraint, and
>left herself wide open to what ever forces were applied  in whatever direction
>they were applied.

My poorly phrased point was that by not having the shoulder harness on, she was
not wearing any seat belt at all and left herself wide open to what happens to a
body with no seat belt at all. There is zero restraint in such a harness when
the shoulder portion is not in place. The belt across the lap only becomes a
restraining device when the shoulder portion locks into place during the crash
or other sudden movement.

I am not telling you anything you don't already know, I just would not want
anyone to read all of this and come away thinking that if they slide the
shoulder section off, they are still wearing a seat belt, since we know that is
not the case at all.

As usual, I made the point quite poorly, but again, I am glad it turned out
better for her than I first read.


Best Regards

John