4-point harnesses

[LISmama810]

I didn't want to hijack the thread where this idea was broached earlier today, but wanted to discuss this more.

Someone posted a link to this site that provides 4-point harnesses for cars. http://wescoperformance.stores.yahoo.net/am4point.html

Here is some text from the site

This seat belt is perfect for the middle position of a bench seat where you would like to have a shoulder restraint seatbelt or would like to attach a baby seat which requires a shoulder harness seat belt.


I'm hesitant to suggest that anyone modify the restraint system in their car, but I'm intrigued by the idea of turning a lap belt into a decent harness. My eyes glazed over trying to read FMVSS 209 (which these claim to comply with), but does anyone know what that standard entails? Is this a legitimate option?

I'm leery of the claim about installing a child seat with it. Aren't seats required to be able to be installed with a lap-only belt? Why would you ever need a shoulder belt for installing a child seat? And how would you even install it with the two shoulder harnesses? (I'd imagine you can't, unless a CR manufacturer has specific instructions for it, which I doubt they would.)

Anyway, I'm rambling, but would like thoughts.

[minismom]

Aren't seats required to be able to be installed with a lap-only belt? Why would you ever need a shoulder belt for installing a child seat? And how would you even install it with the two shoulder harnesses? (I'd imagine you can't, unless a CR manufacturer has specific instructions for it, which I doubt they would.)
.

In Brazil a year ago I came across a Chicco convertible that could only be installed with a shoulder-lap belt. It's weird, they had two different chiccos in the store and the woman explained that the main difference is that one could be installed with the lap belt so you could have it in the center seat (a lot of cars there still have a lap in the middle).

[LISmama810]

I'm talking US though--I thought being able to use a lap belt was one of the requirements.

Really, though, I'm more interested in discussing the modification of a vehicle to include 4-pt harnesses.

Anyone?

[papooses]

I'm multitasking, but I'll just say that I've used the EZOn 86Y harness with lap-only belt before (up to 168#) & something about that feels better -- perhaps because they're well known for making safety restraint systems for kids with special needs.... What exactly does this other harness attach to to keep the upper body safe? Why does it require altering the lap belt that came with the vehicle? EZOn staff were very informative & have high weight tether anchor kits that a dealership can help install.

[LISmama810]

This is actually a harness (racing harness, I guess) that you permanently install into your car. I don't think it actually modifies the lap belt--it replaces it. You bolt it into the floor and stuff. (That's what makes me nervous about it, but I'm sure someone will come back with "But they're used in race cars." I'm not sure how that translates into installing your own seatbelt system, though.)

I'm comfortable with the EZ-On or something like that because it's been tested as a child restraint--meaning that you're not modifying the car, and it has been tested for children.

I'm not comfortable with the idea of actually adding a harness to one's car, but I don't know enough about it to be able to say, "No! It's horrible!" or "Yes! Do it!"

[Chex]

I don't know how comfortable I am with modifying a car either. But my dh used to work for Ford and he said that they were working on making cars w/4pt harnesses for all positions. (That was 3 years ago, and I haven't heard anything about it yet, but at least they're thinking about it.)

[Judi]

Well, if it isn't from the manufacturer (Ford, etc), then it woul be an after market product. I love the idea, but wouldn't do it.

[emandbri]

Here is a site that talks a bit about ford and 4 point harness, it is over 2 years old I think if they were putting them in cars we would have heard by now.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=116677


I'd love to replace my seat belts with 4 point harnesses but how would I know it is really safe? I also don't think my husband would go for it! :whistle:

[emandbri]

I did a quick google search on "why cars don't have 4 point harness" and found some info on a racing forum.

I'm tired and going to bed, if the mods want me to paraphrase it I will in the morning! lol

"With a 4-point seat belt you cannot turn your body sideways to look over your shoulder to see cars in your blind spot. In a racing situation as a race driver you know how to properly use your mirrors to cover your blind spots and you also don't have the same situations as encountered on the street."

This brings up a very good point. If a driver in a passenger car were to have a 4 point harness it would need to have ELR (emergency locking retractors). I'm betting the ford ones have ELR but the ones above don't, they have the harness adjusters on the front.

A guy on that forum replaced his seat belts with 4 or 5 point belts so he could also use the car for racing and says he leaves them loose so he can reach the radio.

[Judi]

But if they had retractors, you could still move.