It seems the argument that no belt is safer than a simple lap belt ignores the historical data gained during the transition from no-belts to lap belts, at least in the U.S. (late 1950's through 1960's) The overall decrease in fatalities due to use of belts was significant, despite the occasional, "thrown-clear" exception and injuries from the belts themselves. It surprises me that the religious wars which sprang up then are continuing. //Jack Date sent: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 22:01:19 +0200 Send reply to: Calle Fallberg <calle.fallberg@TELIA.COM> From: Calle Fallberg <calle.fallberg@TELIA.COM> Subject: Re: Non-Family Hauler To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Mark wrote..... > > > The lap belt creates a natural hinge point for the body to >fold around, > coupled with the force applied to the body >in an accident, you can easily > suffer internal injuries or >even a broken pelvis. > > Terrible injuries, but still this is better than being unstrapped and thrown > out through the windscreen in a head on ...... And since the major part of > collisions take place in the cities at fairly low speed the lap belt compared > to no-belt is so much better ! > > You should also consider the weight of the unbelted rear passenger flying > into the back of the frontseat! Will the frontseat back take this or will it > break and what will then happen to the frontseat passenger ? Could the front > seatbelt take all that force ? Where will the body go IF the frontseat don't > break ? > > I for one would rather strap backseat passengers down with a little risk of > them getting pelvis injuries in case of an accident than see them smashed > over the car I crashed into ! Itīs better being hurt and alive than dead, I > know since I broke my neck in a whiplash 1974 but survived with a 25% reduced > moveability in my right arm and the capability to predict bad weather by a > bit stiffer neck :) To take this discussion a step further I had a threepoint > belt - but no headrest wich is often the case in the rearseats of Vanagons in > general and Westys in particular! > > Calle > -88 Vanagon > Mullhyttan, Sweden |
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