Seat Belt Question

[Earlsfat]

I TRIED TO POST THIS EARLIER BUT IT WOUND UP IN THE BUICK GN FORUM SOMEHOW.

I didn't want to post this in the other thread... it just seems wrong to do it there.

IF a car manufacturer puts a seat belt in a car and the car is able to do in excess of the seat belt's strength and the seat belt breaks and fails to protect the driver... does the driver have grounds for a claim against the manufacturer???? The manufacturer is inherently stating that their vehicle is safe to drive at those speeds by providing safety equipment and permitting the vehicle to "do the speed" that the speedometer indicates. If the safety equipment can't handle speeds in excess of 100 mph, then the vehicle should not be able to exceed 100 mph.

Even if the owner / driver circumvents the manufacturers intentions of speed limitations via modifications to the engine / drivetrain etc, the manufacturer should be somewhat responsible for safety claims up to the speeds indicated on the speedometer of a stock car.

I mean... Christ if Hypsi was only doing 100, and the belt broke... maybe the damn seat belt didn't do it's job? (and yeah 100 isn't really THAT fast... if a KIA minivan can do it...) Something maybe his family ought to consider.

I understand that the manufacturer can't be responsible for a driver who's abusing the vehicle, but for a seta belt to BREAK??? That's just downright scary.

[CamarosRsweet94]

Common sense tells me that during a car accident some pretty unpredictable things can happen so the fact that the belt broke probably isn't because the belt wasn't strong enough but maybe some other factor in the accident. So before we get all sue happy up in here, maybe we should think about some factors that we don't realize are there until we are in a car flipping at over 100 mph. Don't get me wrong I am just as upset about the whole situation as most are on the boards, but think about the forces that were exerted on the car in that situation. The force put on the seat belt was probably much greater than that of a 100 mph crash, the car was flipping that can create a lot of centripital force.

[philly rs]

well hell i thought about that too, and god has had my back because i fliped my brand new honda accord over 17 times and walked away with three scratches! seatbelt grabed me right as i was going for the windshield and threw me back into the seat and yes i was doing over 100 miles an hr.(driving after a fight with a ex) and it made me think back to that when i heard the bad news this past weekend. if they make cars that can and will do the speeds they post on them i think something as simple as a seatbelt should be field tested to the limit. and yes im cocky enough to say even at high rates of speed, and in situations when the car is fliping. ive seen many accedents where the seatbelt has caused the enjury and has killed people, ive seen the ones when it just all out failed and the driver was ejected. i guess what im getting at is they need to cover all aspects of safty and what a car could possibly be put through

[Earlsfat]

Originally Posted by CamarosRsweet94

Common sense tells me that during a car accident some pretty unpredictable things can happen so the fact that the belt broke probably isn't because the belt wasn't strong enough but maybe some other factor in the accident. So before we get all sue happy up in here, maybe we should think about some factors that we don't realize are there until we are in a car flipping at over 100 mph. Don't get me wrong I am just as upset about the whole situation as most are on the boards, but think about the forces that were exerted on the car in that situation. The force put on the seat belt was probably much greater than that of a 100 mph crash, the car was flipping that can create a lot of centripital force.

I full well understand that an accident is just that, and by definition something is going to occur that was planned for. HOWEVER.. a seat belt shouldn't fail, ever... especially not to the point where it snaps and the driver is ejected. If cars will be going faster and safety is touted then the first line of defense, the seat belt, should be the last thing to fail. Christ they make air bags out of steel wire... why not incorporate that into seat belts so that they won't crap out when you need them the most. Maybe they should make 3,4,or 5 point restraint systems mandatory on performance cars? (I'm thinking about replacing mine with a better set now, my seat belts are 35 years old!)

Sue happy ("litigious" is the word)... nawww. But if there was a manufacturing defect in the belt or restraint system then I wouldn't blame them if they sued, hell I'd probably encourage them.

[Rally Sport]

Hope my seatbelt never fails, that would suck.

[Savage Messiah]

yea, even though my accident wasn't a high speed one I am wondering if I should replace my seatbelt now because of whatever stress was put on it

[Rally Sport]

Originally Posted by 97CamaroRS

yea, even though my accident wasn't a high speed one I am wondering if I should replace my seatbelt now because of whatever stress was put on it

Maybe, I suggest to replace the seatbelt like every 10 or so years after 10 cause that's really when it starts messing up.

[Earlsfat]

You know, that would be a good question for your insurance agent. Once in a wreck I'd be hesistant to place any faith in it.


I think I'm evenutally gonna go with a 5 point harness amd some APC seat (Jeg's got a real nice set of APC's reb/black for like $300-ish. I'll see if I can post it up.

[Earlsfat]

Here:


&



(Yeah I know that's not a 5 point, I got the wrong one, the 5 point is virtually the same.)

[Rally Sport]

For your Camaro, i'd definatley do it, Jim. Your car pushes alot of HP.

[Xenostalgia]

A few things....

1: Andy's GN that he was driving was a 87 1987 (I believe, could be wrong.) Thats almost TWENTY YEARS.

Did someone mention that they wear out after 10 years?

And with anything, alot of little 'jerks' and 'bumps' could wear it out. I'm thinking that it was just a horrible combination of bad luck, bad tread, and just old materials for the seatbelt. Also, they don't say HOW the seatbelt failed. Maybe the bolts on the frame ripped out, (Andy was not a thin guy. No disrespect man.) and that is a possibility. The locking mechanism where you do the 'clicker' motion (Shut up :P) could have failed and merely just came out.

Lotsa of variables. But if it was torn, unfortunately i'm leaning against nearly 20 year old materials wearing out in hot sun, cold winter and all sorts of conditions.

A really unfortunate accident.

I'm going to definately install a 5/6 pt belt w/ racing seats on my project car because Andy showed us what is a tragedic outcome.

[89IROC&RS]

something to remember is that no production car is really designed to survive flipping end over end, otherwise we would see production roll bars and cages. seatbelts are designed to operate in a linear crash, but when the car is subjected to the multitude of directional forces associated with flipping, and lets all not forget andy wasnt exactly a featherweight, i think its pretty understandable that it failed.

[Viper_Storm]

Originally Posted by Earlsfat

Here:


&



(Yeah I know that's not a 5 point, I got the wrong one, the 5 point is virtually the same.)

lol, the cam lock design of the 5 point to get out all the straps come free of the cam lock so you have that peice of metal in your hand and well you chuck it on the seat on your way out of the car... then you might sit on it if you forget about it... and it might get f-ing hot in the bright ass summer sun and lets not forget that each of the 5 straps have to be snapped back into the cam lock to be secure... you could only do 3 but then that just defeats the purpose of having a 5 point system, eventually you will get tired of pluging all 5 in and possibley not even using your seatbelt which is totally a bad idea... i have been thinking about the 5 point harness with camlock from jegs for awhile now, but i think im gonna still have my regular starps to just incase i have to run to the store for some milk and bread.

[Earlsfat]

I only have a lap belt now. And yeah a 5 point my be a pain in the ass, but with a wife and 2 small children, one on the way, I think I'll deal with the inconvenience (sp?). I'll probably look like the biggest jackass in the world cruisin around with a 5 point on, but better safe than sorry.

No one makes a 3 point belt do they??? If they do are they worth it or would you just stay with a 5 - 6 point???

[Xenostalgia]

I think you can take the 5 pt belt and just hooke up 3, crotch and 2 shoulders.