harness on the street?

[nostatic]

OK...so for those so equipped, do you run your harness on the street? A poll...

[widebody911]

I'm equipped... and I use a 5-point Sparco harness on the street. Adds a bit of spice to first dates, lemme tell ya!

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Why on earth would you use a harness on the street? You can't reach anything, can't get the EZ-Pass out of the glovebox, can barely reach the radio. I have a full rollbar and a five-point Simpson, but most of the belting comes out of the car between its once-a-month DEs. The stock shoulder belt is as safe as I need, and I can't imagine clipping into and out of a harness five times a day on the occasional days when I drive the car on the street for the fun of it.

Stephan

[JackT]

Why would you?

[JeremyD]

Out for street - in for DE

[nostatic]

at this point I still use my stock belts, but since dropping the seat down, they cut across my collarbone in an uncomfortable manner. I need a kiddie pillow for street use...

[Zeke]

My '71 came with non inertia belts. If I couldn't reach the whatever with those, then it's no difference using the 5 pt or 4 of the 5 pts. So, I removed the stinkin' factory belts and for less money than replacements, especially the inertia retrofits, I installed a 5 pt belt. I might get some looks on the street, but I find them corfortable. And with no air bag, I believe I might be a bit safer, of course depending on the particular incident.

That's my answer to "Why would you?"

[Dantilla]

Both my 911 and NARP 944 have only a 5-point.
Neither one is my daily driver, but taking the time to buckle up is a small price to pay when I get to drive one of the P-cars.

Whenever I drive a Porsche with stock seats & belts now, I wonder how people can stand such horrid accomodations.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I've been running Momo Corse's for the last 6 months, my car is a daily driver, and I drive a lot. the Targa makes it pretty easy to get in and out. BUT, I thought Simpson 5 points would be great, but 3 weeks in I couldn't wait to get new belts in the car. The Simpsons were nice on long drives, but every small trip, it was just a huge pain.

Stay with regular belts, get a pillow. Maybe one with smiley faces on it would be good.

[Trust Me]

My seats are already a pain for the "quick" trip to the store. I'll just keep to the shoulder belt for now. Harness for the fun stuff. Just put in my roll bar too.

[Quicksilver]

Why would you wear a harness on the street?

• Because I have an acute fear of dying and the quantity of force that a harness will absorb without injury is many times what a little stock harness is safe with. (imagine your sternum folding around the shoulder harness...)
• Because I have found that I'm not able to plan when someone is going to run me over so if the car is moving then I am strapped in.
• Because the level of sensitivity that I get when I am attached to the seat, and I'm not supporting any lateral loads through the steering wheel, is greatly improved.
• Because when I'm driving I am only driving. I'm not playing with cell phones or rummaging around in the car. (also I am sitting with my arms at a 100-110° angle so reaching the radio is possible)
• Because I'm just a little more into it then most. (read as obsessed)

Growing up the top local neurosurgeon drove a Volvo with a roll cage that was around the outside of the car while wearing a helmet. It looked kind of like a plumbers truck. Obsessed? You might think so but then you probably didn't spend most of your time operating on people who were in car wrecks.

Even if you are perfect someone can still run you over and the forces we are talking about are amazing. When someone runs me over, I want to unstrap myself, get out, and beat on them with the largest piece of debris possible! They should be easy to find. They will be sitting in their car with a broken sternum and collar bone.

I have been driving with a harness for over 20 years and if there was a roll bar in my pickup then I would be wearing one there.

Wayne

[II6]

I put Schroth 5 pts in my car, and I do use it on the street, but it's a pain to get in & out of the car for short runs. I also get occasional funny looks from passers-by, and I know I will be at a loss to explain to Mr. police officer that "No, I wasn't speeding, sir."

I kept the stock seat belts in there too, so I can still use either setup, but the feeling of safety with the harness on is not even comparable.

[Zeke]

Originally posted by Quicksilver


I have been driving with a harness for over 20 years and if there was a roll bar in my pickup then I would be wearing one there.

Wayne

Why isn't there a roll bar in your truck? I drive a PU everyday with a 3 pt belt and the '89 that it is doesn't have head rests. If I get hit, I'm in deep doo doo. But, I don't drive it in the places or the way I drive the 911. The belts are there more to protect me from myself than from the other guy. When the other guy is going to hit me, he's going to hit me. Most of the time there won't be much I can do about it. I have missed being cobbered a few times by heads up driving.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Not that it would stop any of us nonconformists, but I do believe that using a self-installed harness, whether it has five points or 50, is illegal. Mister NHTSA requires us to wear--if we wear them at all--the certified seatbelt. I think...

Stephan

[Chuck Moreland]

I use a 5 pointer. With my racing shells there really is no option, the 3 pt shoulder belt won't snug up due to the massive side bolsters.

I've got street seats and street belts. But I track my car often, it's just too much hassle to swap them in and out that frequently.

The car is not a daily commuter vehicle. I drive it for fun and only when I feel like it. The harness is part of the experience. I'm sure it would get old strapping in 4 or 5 times a day, everyday.

It is a challenge with 1st time passengers. I have to allow a few extra minutes for them to learn how to buckle in.

[Quicksilver]

Originally posted by Zeke
Why isn't there a roll bar in your truck?
...

Just haven't got around to it yet. Too many moves in too little time. It is a just a little Nissan so it has some 'dodgeability' but it does worry me.

Originally posted by II6
...
I also get occasional funny looks from passers-by, and I know I will be at a loss to explain to Mr. police officer that "No, I wasn't speeding, sir."
...

Just tell him, "That way you can find the body!"
...
Hmmm, or maybe not...

Wayne

[Paul Franssen]

Using a harness on a street car is illegal in Belgium. You will not pass the Belgian "MOT" technical control with racing harness.

[djmcmath]

Rabbit Trail: A quick Googling for NHTSA, seat belt, and harness yields that the NHTSA uses the terms "seat belt" and "harness" almost interchangeably. I'm pretty sure when they say "harness" they mean "seat belt," though. Anyone else know the street legality of using a harness? You guys almost have me convinced that for my own safety in my street-only 911 I need a roll cage and 5-point harness.

Dan

[dd74]

I have a five point. The only time I use it on the street is to get used to the feel of it in preparation for the track. Otherwise I use the stock belts. Oh, and I just leave them in when not in use. Their occasional clanking against the roll bar reminds me that I need to go back to the track.

[sammyg2]

To be legal in the US the belts have to be DOT certified, most if not all racing harnesses fail to meet this category. Prolly not a big deal.

If I were that worried about getting killed or seriously hurt on the street I'd sell my SC and buy a 996 with air bags or I'd buy a big heavy safe car.
Fortunately that isn't the case for me. To each his own.

I had 5 points in my 914 turbo, they were a PITA on the street but looked cool. That bothered me because I figured I was close to being a poser ie. what some here call rice.
I only left them in because it was a hassle taking them in and out (bolted through the firewall).
in the 911 it's easier and faster for me to swap them so I just put them in when I put in the racing seat the night before I go to the track.