[geeks] Mac definitions

[Ben Greisler]

On Jul 15, 2011, at 5:44 PM, Shannon wrote:

> On 15-Jul-2011 17:12, Phil Stracchino wrote:
>
>>> 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?
>
> Because it pushes your lower body into the floor in an accident if you
> don't wear the lap part, and they were not as strong and reliable as the
> non-automatic ones.

In the OP he was referring to GM cars that had separate lap and shoulder
belts. You wouldn't just wear the shoulder belt. Well, you shouldn't. :-)

>> 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.
>

The reason is because they can guaranty that the factory system is installed
properly whereas an aftermarket 4,5 or 6 point harness is less likely to be
installed in any predictable way, thus my comments earlier about poorly
installed racing harnesses. Unless the car is designed for the restraints or
you build them in, aftermarket belts probably won't work as desired.

As for child seats having 5 point harnesses: The manufacture can guaranty that
they will work as expected as long as the seat is mounted correctly. The LATCH
system helps with that but on older cars that use the seatbelt to hold the
childseat, all bets are off.

And honestly, do you think you could get someone to put on a 5 point harness
if you can't get them to put a damned cell phone down?

I used to fly an older Piper Cherokee that only had lap belts. I realized
quickly that they were only there to keep the corpse in a predictable
location.


Ben Greisler | Owner / Technical Lead |  Kadimac Corp
ofc: 215-821-1440 | email: ben at kadimac.com
Certified Member - Apple Consultants Network - ACSA | Xsan | ACT
Apple Professional Services Provider - Education and Enterprise