It seems the argument that no belt is safer than a simple lap belt ignores
the historical data gained during the transition from no-belts to lap belts,
at least in the U.S. (late 1950's through 1960's)  The overall decrease in
fatalities due to use of belts was significant, despite the occasional,
"thrown-clear" exception and injuries from the belts themselves.  It
surprises me that the religious wars which sprang up then are continuing. 
//Jack

Date sent:              Tue, 15 Jun 2004 22:01:19 +0200
Send reply to:          Calle Fallberg <calle.fallberg@TELIA.COM>
From:                   Calle Fallberg <calle.fallberg@TELIA.COM>
Subject:                Re: Non-Family Hauler
To:                     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

> Mark wrote.....
>
> > The lap belt creates a natural hinge point for the body to >fold around,
> coupled with the force applied to the body >in an accident, you can easily
> suffer internal injuries or >even a broken pelvis.
>
> Terrible injuries, but still this is better than being unstrapped and thrown
> out through the windscreen in a head on ...... And since the major part of
> collisions take place in the cities at fairly low speed the lap belt compared
> to no-belt is so much better !
>
> You should also consider the weight of the unbelted rear passenger flying
> into the back of the frontseat! Will the frontseat back take this or will it
> break and what will then happen to the frontseat passenger ? Could the front
> seatbelt take all that force ? Where will the body go IF the frontseat don't
> break ?
>
> I for one would rather strap backseat passengers down with a little risk of
> them getting pelvis injuries in case of an accident than see them smashed
> over the car I crashed into ! It�s better being hurt and alive than dead, I
> know since I broke my neck in a whiplash 1974 but survived with a 25% reduced
> moveability in my right arm and the capability to predict bad weather by a
> bit stiffer neck :) To take this discussion a step further I had a threepoint
> belt - but no headrest wich is often the case in the rearseats of Vanagons in
> general and Westys in particular!
>
> Calle
> -88 Vanagon
> Mullhyttan, Sweden