Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with seatbelts

Why are airplane seatbelts different from car seatbelts?

gleuschk — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:20:39 -0800

Why are airplane seatbelts different from car seatbelts? It seems odd that we would have these two totally different designs for seatbelts. If the airplane one is better (safer, easier to unlatch in a hurry, whatever), why don't we use them in cars? If not, why do we use a design that has to be explained to people? Is there something about the two designs that makes one better in a plane and the other better in a car?

Can I make a classic car (slightly) safer?

missmobtown — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:49:05 -0800

Can one install a shoulder harness on a '65 hardtop Futura with minimal fuss? A part of my California dream has been to own a classic American car, something that leans towards "fun and irresponsible" a little more than the austere compact cars I've always owned. I've been car-free since 2002, so I've decided that if I don't have a "dream car" at this point in my life, I probably never will. I'm finally in a position to buy, and I've got what I want pretty well narrowed down. Now it's just a matter of finding the right '65 Falcon Futura (hey, to each his own!).

Browsing the craigslist ads yesterday, something occurred to me that hadn't before: old cars don't come with shoulder belts. This puts a damper on my enthusiasm. Does anyone have any tips or experience with adding shoulder belts to cars that weren't meant to have them?

Do seatbelts on horses improve safety?

UbuRoivas — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:31:06 -0800

If you wore a seatbelt on a horse, would you be safer or less safe than if you didn't use a seatbelt?

Seat belt Problems

KevinSkomsvold — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 18:10:05 -0800

I have a 2002 Suzuki Esteem Wagon and the rear seat belts no longer retract. We have two child safety seats and are constantly taking them in and out of the car. Last night when I tried to put one of the child car seats back in, the seat belt wouldn't retract. Its stuck all the way out. I don't have an owners manual so I'm not sure if there is a release latch (couldn't find one). Aside from tearing the panel out, any ideas?

Click It or Ticket

NotMyselfRightNow — Sun, 05 Jun 2005 13:36:04 -0800

Do seat belts save lives? As a driver, I don't doubt that they increase my chances of surviving a car accident. But are others safer because of a driver wearing a seat belt? What about a passenger?

Does the benefit extend past the specific user?

Automated seat belts

mathowie — Wed, 19 May 2004 21:47:44 -0800

Remember in the late 80s/early 90s when every car in the US (mostly imports, IIRC) had a motorized seat belt for the front seats? Why did that feature go away? Was it due to them breaking down? Being unsafe in accidents? Being annoying in general? I never really heard why they went away, I just sort of noticed they don't exist anymore.