[Roadsters] Harnesses, not helmets...

[Tom @ Datsun2000]

I told my chiropractor I was planning to install a 4 point system with the
shoulder belts mounting on a horizontal bar that is part of the roll bar.
He said he wished every car could be equipped in that manner.  He would have
a lot less work.

I understand why he said that.  In 1969 a lady hit my 68 2L when I was
moving at near 50 MPH.  She caused me to veer to the right and hit a high
curb head-on.  The car just stopped when it hit the curb.  Instantly.  I had
the factory belts on at the time and they held against what was probably a
30-40 MPH impact.  My glasses smashed against the windshield when they left
my face on impact.  I put the top back and stepped over the door and out of
the car once I realized I was still alive.

As a result of hitting the single shoulder harness that hard my chest
cartilage was broken, causing me considerable pain for about a month
afterwards.  After all these years it is possible to irritate my chest and
cause lingering pain for up to a year afterwards.  If I were wearing a pair
of shoulder belts it is likely I would have left the car without any injury
at all.

Tom
69 2000 - Mr. Hyde
Portland
http://www.datsun2000.com  (where there is a picture of the wrecked 68)
http://www.nowroc.org

-----Original Message-----
From: datsun-roadsters-bounces+tom=datsun2000.com at autox.team.net
[mailto:datsun-roadsters-bounces+tom=datsun2000.com at autox.team.net]On
Behalf Of racery at comcast.net
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:46 AM
To: roadster list
Subject: [Roadsters] Harnesses, not helmets...


Amusingly, in many states, it's illegal to wear a helmet while driving a
car, too, even
though NO ONE can argue it's less safe.

About harnesses, though- if you're modifying a car, even a very safe part
can kill you if it's not done right.
I'd never put a harness into a car without a stout, well- mounted roll bar.
I have this fear
of getting squished...

And while it's not an issue in a Roadster, if you put a 5- point harness
into a modern car
with a smart airbag system, you probably aren't making it much safer.  The
automobile manufacturers
do an insane amount of testing on sleds for this stuff, and a modern car
uses a lot of neat
tricks to slow you down safely.  A harness may just stop you, and as they
say, it's not the drop, it's the sudden stop
at the end that's the problem...

So, the laws aren't entirely stupid- they're just stupid in our cases!

Toby