Ummm, mods that was suppose to read "seatbelt HELP". Can someone fix the post title? Tnx!

 

My daughter who is about your height sets the seat low. My wife sets it about 1/2 way up. I'm a little taller and like seat at highest setting (I feel it gives me better view of road). Sometimes they set the belt heigh adjuster up or down for collarbone comfort.


Wmdpowell car name Roo2

 

How about this?

https://www.amazon.com/Masterlink-M...uster/dp/B004HMBK5G/ref=pd_bxgy_263_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XH0BZW8762T69B5TFZ0B

 

I'm curious how well those work in a collision..:surprise:

 

Yeah, actually I have seen those before and while they would help with comfort, I doubt they would stay in a collision. The question would be how safe the seatbelt is at the current spot if the adjuster pops off. Right now the belt is mostly across my collarbone with just a slight amount at my lower neckline. Enough to be irritating, but not sure if enough to be harmful if in a collision.

 

In my experience the main problem is enforcement. No tampering with the seat belt is allowed. So non-approved adjusters that would make the seat belt comfortable also make it illegal.

If the users response is to point out they do not care about illegal then those adapters may be the best, easiest, cheapest solution.

If the users response is to point out that the adapters may not work in a crash then I would point out the seat belts have to fit properly and comfortably to work as advertised. Also the seat belt you have is not as effective as you think, particularly in roll overs or severe crashes. Even the NHTSA tries to concentrate on lives saved rather than seat belt performance in crashes.

If a person is concerned about seat belt performance and their current seat belt does not fit properly they are left with few legal options.

Personally I have never advocated being dead right so I would suggest making whatever modifications are required to be comfortable and safe. The best solution I've seen had a 4 point harness, with an optional 5th point. It passed inspection because the original seat and seat belt were in place and provided the original seat belt was worn under the harness would be legal to use. The law really is an azz but whatever it takes. BTW the harness can then be used to hold the 3 point in place so it could be more comfortable.

Speaking of legal stupidity, in at least some areas it is illegal to wear a helmet while driving a car. Considering the #1 cause of death in car crashes is head injuries drivers, like motorcycle riders, should be required to wear helmets but instead wearing a helmet can get you ticketed. Something I found out first hand when I got off a motorcycle and jumped into a car to take it to a friends house. I was promptly pulled over and told to remove the helmet. Since then I've tried it a couple times and while the length of time for enforcement to kick in varies it always has.

A co-worker suffered a very serious head injury in a very minor crash. Working with him and watching him struggle with even basic mental tasks year after year was a constant reminder that it is the individual that pays and pays and pays regardless of what the law says or doesn't say.

IMO do whatever makes you feel comfortable and work around the legal as best you can.

 

Great write up! Are you EMT, LEO, Paramedic? Interesting info on the helmet. I'm very comfortable wearing one as I used to be an avid bicyclist and am now on a horse quite a bit. I value my head very much!

I suspect I may try the little adjuster to see if it works. Wonder how quickly it can be pulled off if I get stopped by LEO, before they can get up to my window? ??

 

Great write up! Are you EMT, LEO, Paramedic? ....I suspect I may try the little adjuster to see if it works. Wonder how quickly it can be pulled off if I get stopped by LEO, before they can get up to my window? ??

Most LEO I know are going to be happy with you wearing a seat belt. If you get caught during seat belt awareness it might be questioned but I wouldn't worry about that. If you do get a ticket I'd suggest just considering it an extra tax, a comfort tax that comes around every decade or so. Chances are it won't be an issue.

My interest comes from actually crashing and knowing people who have crashed and doing my own research for improving crash worthiness of older cars and making presentations to Insurance panels. No professional cred at all, though I did do some EMT training with the military that I haven't had to, and hope to, never use. That training, particularly the triage, was so realistic it should have come with a warning and a SicSac. Just saying seat belts and helmets are a good start.

 

Why not use a "booster" seat. No you don't have to use the ones designed for children and feel embarrassed or whatever, just get the thickest gel comfort cushion you can find and it will raise you up about 2-3 inches. That may be enough to provide better overall comfort. If you're skeptical about spending money on a gel cushion, try using the firmest pillow you already have around the house for test purposes. My wife is also 5'2" and always used one of those gel seat cushions in our Subaru. Worked great for her and perhaps it might help you too.

 

Not a bad idea. While I do have the seat up as high as it will go, I don't really need any more height for visual purposes. But, I can give that a try and see if it makes me more comfortable, especially with the seat belt. I did order the little plastic clip to see if that would work. Gosh, I'm not talking much...I just need it to come off my neck about an inch. And of course, once I feel it there, no matter what...I'm focused on it and I feel like I'm being strangled. Yeah, the drama! LOL!