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Subject:Re: Non-Family Hauler / rear lap belts are much more safe than no belt
From:John Rodgers
Date:Tue, 15 Jun 2004 17:12:00 -0500

Anonymous Digest wrote:

>>Sam, maybe I didn't make it clear .... my girl was thrown completely out of the
>>car. She was wearing the three point restraint  as a lap belt, instead of
>>wearing it correctly.. The other girl was strapped into the vehicle by her
>>three-point restraint, which kept her securely  in her seat throughout the
>>rollover.
>>
>>
>
>I usually just lurk, having no problems with my van, but I can't watch this
>thread and not point out the inconsistencies in all this logic.
>
>I am very sorry for your loss, but if you wear a three point belt and remove the
>shoulder strap as you say she did, you are not wearing any restraint device at
>all.
>
John, she survived the accident relatively intact. Broken kneecap was
the single worst injury. Lesson learned.

She still had the lap portion of the belt across har lap, but by sliding
the shoulder harness down, she defeated the purpose of the shoulder
restraint, and left herself wide open to what ever forces were applied
in whatever direction they were applied. The belt was still connected to
the attachment points even after the accident, but because she did not
have it own correctly she had defeated its function.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver