Which is more safe?
I know for racing they use harnesses, but would it be practical for DD as well? Or would it be better to stick with regular seat belts and airbags.

Advice, info, statistics are all welcome!.

 

if you plan on autocrossing or anything,harness is the way to go. i got a new steering wheel, so naturally it deletes the airbag. i had f1spec bucket seats and 3 inch sparco 4 pts, and i got into a car crash,and was perfectly fine. i believe if i had stock seatbelts i would be messed up,but i had the harnesses and i was perfectly fine. hope that helps


and unless you dont want to take the extra minute to show everyone that gets into your car how buckle a camlock, or have to tell your fat friends they cant ride in your car cause they wont fit in your seats,dont get them

 

That's good to know.

I was thinking of getting some new seats and racing harnesses but wasn't sure if they are dangerous on street use as well with no airbags..

any other input?

 

i would like to know this too..

wanted to get a pre-92 car without airbags (crx, etc.), was wondering if it would be practical to put in harness / bucket seats to compensate for no airbags? (street use also)

 

night bump

 

Street = Seat Belts
Track = Harness

 

For daily driving? I wouldn't recommend putting on a harness. I think it's rather pointless to have it for street use only. With it, you wouldn't be able to turn around and look at your blind spots. In other words, it's just not safe.

If you really want it and just for show, put them on top of the seat belt without being intact. That's what I would do.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Pat_S &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">With it, you wouldn't be able to turn around and look at your blind spots. In other words, it's just not safe. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Not to be a jerk but turning your head is the most unsafe thing I've ever attempted while driving...Using mirrors is what they are created for.

Is that the only reason?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dave95m3 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Street = Seat Belts
Track = Harness

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Best first post ever!

 

The problem with harnesses, is that they aren't as comfortable for daily or long trips, you are pretty much strapped in to the chair, and cant really move your body...

with a 3-point, the tension isn't always there.. allowing you to move around if needed


the front airbags, are really there to limit the amount of travel your head does during a collision. this helps prevent a deadly head/neck inury from sudden stops/accidents.


this is why the FIA/NASCAR/ChampCar/etc require a HANS device.

====

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slacks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Using mirrors is what they are created for.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Mirrors don't cover your blind spots.

thats why they are called blind spots.

 

good call, bpr0422.

Seems best to keep airbags at least.

But leaving the 3-point seatbelt with the racing harness and racing seat wouldn't be bad right?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bpr0422 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Mirrors don't cover your blind spots.

thats why they are called blind spots. </TD></TR></TABLE>

maybe it's just the way I have my mirrors

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bpr0422 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no, but harnesses aren't comfortable to sit on! </TD></TR></TABLE>
that'd be true too lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slacks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Not to be a jerk but turning your head is the most unsafe thing I've ever attempted while driving...Using mirrors is what they are created for.

Is that the only reason?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I know mirrors is what they are used for, but then again, what about your blind spots? You swear you haven't heard about that, looking over your shoulder, just to make sure there isn't a car passing by. For example, entering a freeway or merging into another lane. All you do is look at the mirror? And not just spin your head for a quick second to see if any car is there? Really though? Think about it.

Only reason? I think there are a few more other reasons in why you shouldn't install a harness and put it on for street use only. If only the Road Racing/Autocross or Type-R owners would chime in.

... Contact user, Big Phat R, I remember seeing his post, with reasons to why it's dangerous. I'm not quite sure if he was the one though, but give it a shot.

 

You, as a driver will always have areas that you can't see without physically moving your head to check if there's a car near you.

 

you should only using a racing harness with a rollbar/cage. otherwise, i'd stick with the stock seatbelt and steering wheel

 

a harness is only useful if you have it setup correctly, those takata harnesses are crap.

they are not suitable for track use.

also if you have it bolted at a steepr slope than i belive 40 degrees it will compress your spine in the event of an acciedent.

an fia roll cage (not cusco) with an fia aprroed helmet,harness (not takata), with fia approved foam bar is the safest. if you want and if you need you can go with a fire suppression system (not an apc fire extingusier) and actual system.

but with all that coupled with an airbag is hazordous its either oem 3 point with airbags in working order and intact or all out. no in betweens

 

I wasn't thinking so much of the harness strapping you down as much as the seat (a racing style seat). But yeah, I understand where you're coming from, Pat.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dangthemang &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you should only using a racing harness with a rollbar/cage. otherwise, i'd stick with the stock seatbelt and steering wheel </TD></TR></TABLE>

Seems to make more sense. Hope that clears a few things up for anyone else interested.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civic.slow &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">a harness is only useful if you have it setup correctly, those takata harnesses are crap.

they are not suitable for track use.

also if you have it bolted at a steepr slope than i belive 40 degrees it will compress your spine in the event of an acciedent.

an fia roll cage (not cusco) with an fia aprroed helmet,harness (not takata), with fia approved foam bar is the safest. if you want and if you need you can go with a fire suppression system (not an apc fire extingusier) and actual system.

but with all that coupled with an airbag is hazordous its either oem 3 point with airbags in working order and intact or all out. no in betweens </TD></TR></TABLE>

woah... awesome info

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civic.slow &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">a harness is only useful if you have it setup correctly, those takata harnesses are crap.

they are not suitable for track use.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

wtf? since when are takata harnesses not fia approved?

 

i accidentally deleted my post:

no, but harnesses aren't comfortable to sit on!

i have my mirrors set up a certain way.. it minmizes the blind spot.. but there are still areas that the mirrors don't cover.. only problem with this setup is that headlights of suvs/trucks blind me from my side mirrors

my side mirrors cover about 1.5 lanes if i'm in the middle lane, depending on if the road is banking or not.

there are still lanes however that i cannot see with those mirrors.. and thus u need to quickly turn your head.. and still keep an eye out for brakelights infront of you.

------------------------
___A__B____C___D
------------------------
______X_____Z
------------------------
___E__F Y___G___H
------------------------

you are car X, no matter how u set up your mirrors.. you can't see car B or F....

unless you have dome mirrors....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slacks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I wasn't thinking so much of the harness strapping you down as much as the seat (a racing style seat). But yeah, I understand where you're coming from, Pat.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, pretty much. Strapping you down onto the seat (without moving, but your arms), you won't be as comfortable for daily driving or long trips (as others mentioned), your butt will start hurting, and all that other stuff.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slacks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Seems to make more sense. Hope that clears a few things up for anyone else interested.</TD></TR></TABLE>

For anyone else that searches!