Racing harnesses illegal on the street? Someone elighten me

[Guest Anonymous]

If you decided to rear-end a truck you wouldn't be able to duck sideways.

[Guest Anonymous]

If not, here's why you'll want to consider NOT using the 5 point harnesses. In the event of an accident on the street, (using the 5 point harnesses) that is head on, from the rear, or lateral you'd be pretty well protected in the belts. Your body would be caught in the deceleration during impact.

BUT, in the event of a roll-over, if your roof were to collapse your body would have no where to go. The roof could pancake down ontop of you. Meanwhile your belts keep your body from moving out of the way... SMOOSH! Had you had on simple DOT factory belts, your body would have been able to slide down in the seat so that the you're not crushed like a vice squeezing you.

If you have a cage then the integrity of the passenger compartment shouldn't be an issue (we'd assume), and then of course you'd want harnesses. (and foam "nerf bars" to keep parts of your body from getting injured from the cage). This is why I have been told using 3, 4, 5 point harnesses on cars without a bar/cage can be REALLY bad.

Has anyone else heard this?

Dan Curtis

'73 2002

[Guest Anonymous]

Baicly the 5- point harnes manufactures dont go through the rigamarol of geting DOT legal. There is one company that is but I cant recall it. WE all know that if you have a cage or a role bar the 5 points are safer. If you dont have the bar they will kill you, thats incase of a role over you cant slide sideways when the roof colapes. If I were you I would run the 5 point but keep the lap belts in the car incase of bitching (more problems with state inspections). I have never heard of somone haveing problems with this law unless they were driveing overly agressive (very fast or stuped) and realy pissed off the cop. What is your safty worth to you?

Sam Schultz

[Guest Anonymous]

I have heard this in the past and am looking for someone to shed some light on the subject.

I am faced with either using lap belts in my '68 when I drive it on the street or using my 5pt camlock harnesses. I'm told the harnesses are illegal but no one knows why. Can someone enlighten me?

The prospect of getting in an accident with lap belts doesn't thrill me. I don't know what would hurt more, my chest as it hits the steel rod in the steering column or my head from hitting the roll cage.

Todd

'68 project - trying to figure out an asinine law.

[Guest Anonymous]

URL: http://www.bmpdesign.com/bmw/parts/catalog/safety_22.shtml

Schroth and Seabelt come to mind. They are DOT aproved 2" belts. All racing belts are 3" wide.

Check them out. This will give you a harness that you want and you will still be in compliance with the law.

steve

[Guest Anonymous]

I'll wear the harness along with a lap belt over the top of it. This accomplishes two things.

#1 - It's safer.

#2 - It will annoy the hell out of the cops when they pull me over for using a harness.

Todd

'68 project

[Guest Anonymous]

I have a 4 point harness in my car, needed it for Solo 1 but I don't have a cage or roll-over bar. To be honest I don't like wearing the harness on the track, can be hard to shift gears in my car(well really only into 5th). In normal driving it would be a pain in the ass, impossible to reach the stereo, or climate controls. Least of all is the safety concerns, although I would in 95% of accidents prefer to be in the harness, even without the cage.

[Guest Anonymous]

Yes, not DOT aproved parts are illegal in the car, but we all use them.

Just ask people with Steel Braided brake lines.

steve k.

[Guest Anonymous]

My first concern is safety on the track. The car will rarely make an appearance on the street.

Todd

'68 project

[Guest Anonymous]

Whenever I've gotten stopped in my old 71 w. harnesses, for whatever reason - even at Saturday night sobriety checkpoints - the cops ALWAYS say - and without fail:

"Gee... those are pretty nifty seatbelts...do you like NASCAR 'er sumthin'?"

I've NEVER had any problems. Mine were bright yellow and mounted to the rear parcel shelf.

my 02 centies

Paul

Maximill...

[Guest Anonymous]

I just go balls out and wear the lapbelt. I am sure it is dangerous and I have had many cops follow me and I have not yet got pulled over. I would not worry about it at all.

From what I have understood, harnesses are legal, as long as the width of the belts are not over 2.5inch. For what reason? I have no idea...

Trent

[Guest Anonymous]

I've read the entire California vehicle code, there's absolutely nothing about roll cages, 5-point harnesses, helmets, or any other racing safety equipment in the California law.

However there is a federal law saying that safety equipment should only be replaced by DOT-approved safety equipment. I believe that technically this only applies to repairs made by a commercial shop; they aren't supposed to substitute non-conforming safety equipment to reduce cost. If your state has a safety inspection, they might require presence of DOT-approved belts, but I doubt there will be much trouble about 3" racing harnesses.

Of course, what the others say below about full harnesses without a cage is worth noting. I replaced my stock belt with a 3-point setup using a Simpson 5-point belt. Works fine, nice and tight, still gives you the ability to flop over if you flip the car (yeah, like THAT's going to save you).

Mike