[geeks] Mac definitions

[Phil Stracchino]

On 07/15/11 16:31, Shannon wrote:
> On 15-Jul-2011 10:29, Phil Stracchino wrote:
> 
>> I actually really liked the seat belts in my 1970 Camaro SS350.  There
>> was a lap belt, and a *completely separate* shoulder belt with a
>> separate buckle, and neither had a stupid inertia reel.  (I strongly
>> dislike inertia-reel belts.  
> 
> This kind of belt has been widely shown to be dangerous. They even tried
> to make the shoulder part automatic for a few years, with disastrous
> accident results (i.e. worse than not having one at all).

Dangerous how?

>> I could pull the lap belt
>> good and tight across my hips, then leave 3" or so of slack in the
>> shoulder belt, in the knowledge that 3" was all the slack there was
>> *going* to be.
> 
> Gaps between you and the belt might feel better, but they are dangerous
> and you should never do it. People don't like it, but the fact is they
> work better if they fit you snug.

Large gaps, sure.  I basically left myself just enough slack to be able
to move around a little.

> Beyond that in situations where you are under g-forces, the gap prevents
> another belt function: keeping you properly in your seat to control the car.

An inertia-reel belt doesn't give you any lateral positioning control
anyway.


Really, I'd much sooner have had a five-point harness.  But think about
this one:

If you have a child in the car, the child is REQUIRED to be in an
anchored child safety seat with either a latching shield, or a four or
five point harness.  A three-point belt is not permitted.

Why a four or five point harness?  Because it's safer.

But you, the adult, are not ALLOWED to have a five-point harness.
Because it didn't come originally with the car.  The law requires that
you wear the original factory installed seat belt.  You are REQUIRED BY
LAW to install a safer retention system for your child than was
installed at the factory, but FORBIDDEN BY LAW from installing a safer
retention system for yourself or any adult passengers.  The law requires
you to use the factory three-point belt that the law doesn't consider
safe enough to protect your kids.


Go figure.


-- 
  Phil Stracchino, CDK#2     DoD#299792458     ICBM: 43.5607, -71.355
  alaric at caerllewys.net   alaric at metrocast.net   phil at co.ordinate.org
  Renaissance Man, Unix ronin, Perl hacker, SQL wrangler, Free Stater
                 It's not the years, it's the mileage.