Factory harnesses in Euro and UK street cars
02-02-2019, 03:58 PM
#1
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Factory harnesses in Euro and UK street cars
Curious if anyone has experience regarding the factory 4-point harnesses that some European street-going sportscars feature. I've noticed these being used in some car videos from across the Atlantic, and one I saw today concerned me. This is Mr. JWW, whose videos are generally pretty entertaining, reviewing a Ferrari 599 GTO on some cold, slick British B-roads. Notice how loose his shoulder harnesses are. Here he is in a 650+ hp, rear-wheel drive car, likely on summer tires, struggling at times for traction on wet, snowy, narrow country roads, all while wearing loose-fitting harnesses. Does anyone know if these factory harnesses feature the same safety systems as regular 3-point belts--pre-tensioning when rapid deceleration is detected, or at the very least automatic tensioning during a collision? If not, it would seem to me these are more dangerous than a standard, well-designed 3-point belt. Based on how loose he has these in the video, he's almost entirely reliant on the airbags keeping him safe in a collision.
Just had this on my mind given recent discussions of safety while on track, and more and more groups mandating HANS use if harnesses are in use. Again, the key seems to be using restraints/belts as an entire system, and not piecing things together haphazardly. Either use a 5 or 6-point harness properly tightened, with a HANS device and rollover protection (track), or use a well-designed factory 3-point belt with automatic tensioning and airbags (street). Am I overthinking this?
Just had this on my mind given recent discussions of safety while on track, and more and more groups mandating HANS use if harnesses are in use. Again, the key seems to be using restraints/belts as an entire system, and not piecing things together haphazardly. Either use a 5 or 6-point harness properly tightened, with a HANS device and rollover protection (track), or use a well-designed factory 3-point belt with automatic tensioning and airbags (street). Am I overthinking this?
02-09-2019, 11:39 AM
#2
They don't pretension and are fairly common on track versions of supercars in Europe. 991 GT3 RS. etc...
He simply hasn't tightened them correctly. Many people don't tighten their 5/6 point belts properly either.
Step 1 - Crotch strap length correct.
Step 2 - Tighten lap belts fully. This should pin your hips into place.
Step 3 - Finally, tighten shoulder straps.
If lap belts lift at step 3 then you haven't done Step 2 correctly.
He simply hasn't tightened them correctly. Many people don't tighten their 5/6 point belts properly either.
Step 1 - Crotch strap length correct.
Step 2 - Tighten lap belts fully. This should pin your hips into place.
Step 3 - Finally, tighten shoulder straps.
If lap belts lift at step 3 then you haven't done Step 2 correctly.
02-09-2019, 06:21 PM
#3
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It is actually illegal to use them on public streets, while they can be ordered (and Inhave them in my GT4) they are a track only item. And it is stupid to use them without helmet, HANS or Simpson Hybrid, but that is another story. On the street, I’d rather rely on 3-point belt and airbags.
