Re: Harness

["I.Mannix" <mannix@privatei.com>]

>Is a harness equipped car safer than the usual lap and shoulder plus airbag
>combo in a collision?

Maybe, has a lot to do with the kind of harness/how it was installed.

>
>I have no experience with a harness so I have some questions.  Are there
>four and five (and more?) point harnesses, and if so, what are their
>differences/pros/cons etc?

The basic 4 & 5 point layout have one difference - the sub (crotch) strap -
it is not there for looks or perverse pleasures, but to keep your body from
squirting down and out in an impact.  A factory seatbelt is designed to let
you fall forward a bit, as that seems to help keep you in the seat.  FWIW,
SCCA Solo Trials (Solo 1.5, time trial/fast autocross) will not let
competitors use shoulder harnesses in a car without a rollbar, premise
being that they want you to fold forward in the event of a roll rather than
staying vertical and getting smushed.

>
>Are these things easy to live with in a daily driver?

Not really, IMHO.

>
>I remember seeing a harness which required them to be anchored to the rear,
>making the rear seats unuseable.  Are they all like this or are there some
>that attach only to the front?  Do they require special seats with special
>mounting points?

 The rear straps should go almost straight back from the shoulders - don't
get "clever" and mount the tailstrap to the floor behind the drivers seat -
all of a sudden, you have HUGE compressive forces in an accident.
Harnesses are not meant to look cool or be efficient - they are made to
hold you in and keep you alive.  You won't be able to use the rear seat
once you get one/are using it.  Best of luck!


Mannix


>
>TIA, b--------
>
>
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