I was just looking at the 74 to 80 seatbelt post and thought of something to through out there. About 25 years ago I was working for the transportation dept of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa/Carlton and I ran across in a file a federal report (could have been US...dont remember) about seatbelts. It was still MPH in Canada then. It stated that the primary reason for wearing a seatbelt was to reduce the damage of persons hitting (against) each other in the vehicle in a crash. It had some stats I dont remember...150 Lb body at 30 mph.... yaydyaydyayada. But the thing I do remember was that after aprox 60 mph whether you are wearing a seatbelt or not (no shoulder straps then as I recall) your chances in a crash are about the same...real bad. Just thought i would share that for some reason.
seat belt protection to what speed
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I'm a firm believer in seat belts. Yes there a certain situations where they will not help you survive an accident, but there are plenty of other situations where they absolutely will. And believe it or not a seat belt can help prevent an accident.
I am a survivor of a roll-over. Had I not been wearing my seat belt I would have certainly beeen tossed all over the place inside the cab, maybe even being ejected. I can't tell you if I would have walked away or been seriously injured, but I can tell you that I did walk away and I contribute that to the seat belt I was wearing at the time.
Ed
I am a survivor of a roll-over. Had I not been wearing my seat belt I would have certainly beeen tossed all over the place inside the cab, maybe even being ejected. I can't tell you if I would have walked away or been seriously injured, but I can tell you that I did walk away and I contribute that to the seat belt I was wearing at the time.
Ed
the shoulder support is really where they made the huge stride in the seat belt. The lap belt really didn't do much other than helping maintain the position of the person in the seat during a roll over or a slide. Your body would still fold over just as easily and there is really nothing you can do about becoming one huge hinge when you hit a poll at 60 mph. With the tilt locking mechanism in the belt console and the shoulder strap, if everything works as it should, you aren't going anywhere. Thats why 25 years ago there wasn't a damned case of whiplash, everyone just has broken necks/noses/jaws. Now, the only thing NOT locked against the seat is your 8 lb head that can get moving pretty damned fast in a crash.
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Well, I think I have some "professional" insight into this. As said, the belts have greatly increased the chance of surviving a crash, and mostly because of the addition of the shoulder belt.
Statistically, there's still a chance for lower limb fractures ( foot hard on the brake, and wham, there goes yer ankle, femur, pelvis) that a belt won't stop. Plus, there's still chance of a head strike, especially with a T-bone or side hit (pass into pass side, driver into driver's side).
Sometimes the belt itself can cause injuries to the lower abdomen and pelvis, and the liver/spleen from the shoulder belt.
Spinal injuries in men age 18-35 are still most commonly caused by motor vehicle crashes. A common result of the body staying put, and the head continuing forward, or sacral fractures in conjunction with the pelvic injuries mentioned before. Don't forget the big steering wheel sitting right in front of you, that's responsible for lots of injuries to the upper abdomen/chest/neck (obviously). A torn aorta could ruin yer day in seconds.
With all that said, wear the dern thing, cause before seatbelts, people just died. They didn't get a chance at living without a spleen, or one kidney, or a new surgical scar on their stomach, they just died. No big rod down their femur for them, cause who cares about a leg when the patient's head looks like a burst melon.
AAHHH, I feel better, do you?
Mike
Statistically, there's still a chance for lower limb fractures ( foot hard on the brake, and wham, there goes yer ankle, femur, pelvis) that a belt won't stop. Plus, there's still chance of a head strike, especially with a T-bone or side hit (pass into pass side, driver into driver's side).
Sometimes the belt itself can cause injuries to the lower abdomen and pelvis, and the liver/spleen from the shoulder belt.
Spinal injuries in men age 18-35 are still most commonly caused by motor vehicle crashes. A common result of the body staying put, and the head continuing forward, or sacral fractures in conjunction with the pelvic injuries mentioned before. Don't forget the big steering wheel sitting right in front of you, that's responsible for lots of injuries to the upper abdomen/chest/neck (obviously). A torn aorta could ruin yer day in seconds.
With all that said, wear the dern thing, cause before seatbelts, people just died. They didn't get a chance at living without a spleen, or one kidney, or a new surgical scar on their stomach, they just died. No big rod down their femur for them, cause who cares about a leg when the patient's head looks like a burst melon.
AAHHH, I feel better, do you?
Mike
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