Are racing seatbelts safer than regular seatbelts?

Answer 1

Alot depends on the application. As a generalization the 5 and 6 point systems used in racing are superior to the 3 point used in passenger cars (the point here refer to how many spots the belt connects to the car, not the number of straps as both 5 and 6 point systems will have the same five connections in the center).

However, in order to correctly use a these systems, you need a seat which will correctly support the two shoulder straps. If used with ordinary passenger seats, they are more likely to slide off the shoulders, making them potentially worse. And given the correct shell with harness guides and such, you should have roll protection since you will be held into your seat to a degree you cannot slide to the side in the event of a rollover. And so on... safety systems on a car tend to be just that, systems. Changing one part can throw another part off.

Answer 2

Full harness belts are far safer, as the ex-racer points out. Due to the fact that a strap goes over each shoulder, the body is held more securely. Imprtantly, it is impossible to slip out of the belts on impact, which can and does hapen with a single diagonal belt across the chest.

The impact loading is therefore evenly distributed across BOTH shoulders for the upper-body, and across the entire pelvis using broad and cushioned web straps.

The crutch strap prevents the driver (or navigator in a rally-car) from sliding UNDER the belts, which can happen in a severe impact.

Unfortunately, under British law, they are illegal for road-use due to the fact that they cannot be fastened with one hand; a requirement of the construction and use regulations.

So in order to satisfy "them who think they know best," cars fitted with full-harness belts also need to have ordinary lap and diagonal belts fitted, even though there is no requirement to wear them specifically when another type of belt is used.

Of course, full harness belts work best when there is a special safety-seat fitted, with slots in them, through which the full-harness belts go. This way, both seat and driver are held securely, and a safety-seat is designed to take a considerable impact without being destroyed; thus protecting the pelvis and vital organs like a wrap-around egg-shell. In combination with a safety-cage (roll-cage), a seam-welded car body-shell and a crash-helmet, the chances of survival in even BIG accidents at speed, increases to something close to 100%......let's say 99.9% as a guess.

With a central button which releases all the straps, full-harness belts are very easy to get out of, and cannot seize up like inertia-reel lap and diagonals.

Answer 3

I don't believe they are any safer than regular seatbelts per se, as regular seat belts are designed to be pretty safe. From what I understand, the racing harnesses are designed more to keep you planted firmly in your seat when taking high speed turns and such.

Answer 4

How about gradually ABOLISHING ANY current mandatory law regarding personal safety devices and give people back the most important possession that they've stolen from us: The most basic of civil liberties -- Freedom of Choice! Why are long trousers not mandatory? They protect the skin way better than shorts (skin cancer, mozzie borne deceases, etc) and 'it saves lives'! Oh please,.. these kind of naive propositions have to stop. Do whatever you please to protect yourself. Be as paranoid as you want, but don't try to forcefully shove those paranoid ideas down the throats of those who don't like to swallow that poison, by means of some federal law. That sort of dictiating is a passively aggressive way of bullying, not to mention the most cowardly way. It's almost like demanding, "DO AS I SAY, OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES: I'll sent some heavily armed person to beat you up". 'Safety first' is BULL$HIT! No matter what we do in life, we ALWAYS compromise safety in one way or another for comfort, convenience and often even just for fashion. E.g. wearing high heels results in lots of unnecessary falls and injuries, and in the long run it also causes many spinal deformities and other joint- and ligament- related problems. Over the years, many pedestrians wearing dark clothes might still be alive today if they wore something better visible when they were hit by a car that fateful night. However, if we want to claim to live in a free country, then freedom of choice is the foundation and should under no circumstance be robbed by any control-freak politician playing god, dictating what we can and cannot do regarding personal safety. We don't need any macho cop threatening, "Wear XYZ or wear a FINE!" which is basically just a nasty form of bullying and robbery at gun point. And we don't need any plain civilian ,wanting to play god, giving those control-freak politicians any absurd ideas either. We already know most of them have absolutely zero respect for civil liberties. Take a look at countries such as India, Indonesia and most other Asian countries. People are much more peaceful, because they have much more freedom of choice. If they want to cram 10 people in a car, no one judges one another in a hostile manner. Western countries could learn a thing or two from them.

Answer 5

Yes they are. However they utilize a 5 point anchor system which makes them difficult to install in a standard car. You need to anchor both(2) of the shoulder straps, each of the lap straps independently, and a separate crotch strap anchor. Each strap has a metal end which clicks into a belly button level lock/release mechanism (single point release). The straps are also wider than those in a car so it spreads the load some. I hope that helps.
I know this because I used to race.

Answer 6

yes they have a 5 point harness two over the shoulders two over the waist and one up the middle of the legs

Answer 7

YES, because they are wider, stronger, and wrap around your body more securely, to more attach points than a standard auto belt.

Answer 8

yes during impact but no for escape from vehicle after it comes to rest

Answer 9

id say they are about the same

Answer 10

they're the same!