Seat belts.

Let me start by saying, hello. This is a odd question that I don't know how to word... So here goes nothing. Anyway I am very big into cars, and one thing I want to do when I get my car is replace my factory seats with racing seats. Where does my pacer come in? Well I have been in a few accidents were I was sitting behind the driver and the seat belt goes right over my pacer and it has sent me to the ER a number of times. Well with me starting to drive I'm worried about the seatbelt issue. I was wondering if I got a different style seat belt (5 point) much like the one like they have in racing that go over both shoulders and across the waist would it be dangerous? Or would it be more safe then the standered belt? Because the impact is not in one spot.

5 Comments

I'm 77 yrs old & have...

by donr - 2014-01-10 01:01:06

...grandchildren older than you.

I do not know where you live, but from what you told me:

1) You are NOT ready to go out on the streets alone behind the wheel. 19 yrs old & been in several accidents already. Well, maybe I'd let you go out in a 1982 Chevette 4 cylinder sedan.

2) You obviously need a good driving course to teach you how to handle a car correctly & safely so that you just MIGHT grow up to be 25, when you finish gaining your adult judgement.

3) I said the same thing to all 4 of our kids - they were just like you. I met the county Sheriff of Des Moines County, Iowa, on New Year's Eve in a ditch in a near blizzard while I was getting our #1 Son out of it. You should try getting a wrecker in a blizzard at 8 PM New Year's Eve.

I'm afraid to tell you that I learned about #1 Daughter's early exploits behind the wheel when she was near 26. That's why I'm gray.

#2 Daughter scared the crap out of my Wife & me so badly while driving down an Autobahn in Germany that I made her drop us off at the closest Bahnhof (That's a railroad station) so we could take a train to our destination - we told her that we would meet her there.

#2 Son literally took off from the top of a low hill on a gravel road in rural Iowa, went airborne for about 50 feet. landed on the roof of a Chevette. He managed to pass over a farmer's barbed wire fence while in the air before landing on the roof. The Chevette bounced & rolled over onto its wheels sitting upright w/ the roof cocked off at a funny angle. At this time, he was a Sr in HS & had three other teens w/ him. The sum total of the damages to the kids was one of them spilled his bag of salted nuts all over while upside down.

Oh - they ALL had seatbelts properly fastened.

For some reason, Known only to God, my Wife & I survived all this - amazingly, we permitted them to survive. Today, the youngest is 43 & the oldest is 54.

5) Were you to have access to my archived comments, you would find one in there that advocates 5 point suspension for all front seats in autos. NASCAR uses them; all Formula 1 drivers use them; all aircraft use them for aircrews. I have read many aircraft accident investigations of military aircraft that end w/ the conclusion in part "...the accident was survivable, except that the pilot did not have his harness fastened & adjusted properly..."

6) I wear a skateboarder's helmet while riding/driving in a car. I take Coumadin, an anti-coagulant. Yes, you may join all the Harley Hawg riders laughing at the Old Fahrt wearing a helmet in a car. BTW: it saved my life when my head went through a window when we were T-Boned once by a teen driving while Texting.

7) If you can afford it - by all means put in racing seats w/ 5 point suspension in your new car. Your Father & Mother will thank me if you do. You might, also.

8) Oh, yes - keep the &^%$%$# harness fastened at all times, When we got T-Boned, we were on a 1/4 mile trip between a Kinko's & a Cracker Barrel.

Strong letter to follow.

Best regards...

Don, your surrogate Grandfather.

Mallie - Just getting home, eh?

by donr - 2014-01-10 03:01:22

Been sitting up waiting for you to get in. a bit late, aren't you?

How many of those accidents under 16 were your fault?

I'll be careful while driving through MD.

Don, Your surrogate grandfather

How about a Shelby Mustang?

by BillMFl - 2014-01-10 09:01:45

That would be a great first car! Add a roll cage, helmet and 5 point belt and you are ready for the morning rush hour! I suppose your parents would not go along. So get a beater to drive and get your kicks on video games instead. I could tell you about my Hobby Stock racing days with a 56 Ford in my early 20's on a 1/4 mile track but that might be a bad influence. :)

Just goes to sow you...

by donr - 2014-01-10 10:01:38

...grandfatherly figures come in all stripes - good influence & bad.

Just remember. Mallie, "What happens at Grandpa's - STAYS at Grandpa's!"

Sheeeeeeeesh! From a lecture on driving safety to a Shelby Mustang.

Had I known when I wrotre my first comment what I know after Mallie's last comment, I'd have lectured her on the selection of her associates.

Interesting thread Eh, what?????

Don, surrogate Grandfather

I like the way the details ...

by donr - 2014-01-11 11:01:34

...come ooozing out every time we make a new comment.

I guess we now have to amend our comments to say that instead of a poor choice in friends, you picked your parents badly.

We should take up a collection to send them to a "Defensive Driving " school!

Don Surrogate Grandfather

You know you're wired when...

You can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.

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