Different take on seat belts

denis4x4

denis4x4

Well-known member
Jumped in the Model A supercab truck to go to the grocery store, put on the seat belt and I was reminded that a number of posters here take the attitude that belts are worthless in an A. To some extent, I agree. However, the act of buckling a seat belt is a long time habit that should never be put aside. Why ignore that habit in a Model A when you would never forget to buckle up in a late model?
 
I'm afraid I don't agree with the notion that seat belts are useless in a Model A. As the law works here, we are perfectly legal to use the car with NO seatbelt because they weren't fitted when the car was made and well before they became compulsory. It is not legal to fit seat belts unless they pass a stringent examination by an automotive engineer. WTF!!! Fitting a belt to these cars so it will pass inspection is impossible. I've installed them the best way I can and use them even though they are not approved. I feel I and my passengers are safer with what I have fitted than without. I figure that almost ANY restraint is better than none and that those stupid regulations in fact, compromise our safety. As the old saying goes, I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six.
Thoroughly agree with sticking with the habit of putting one on when I get into the car.
 
Synchro909 said:
I'm afraid I don't agree with the notion that seat belts are useless in a Model A. As the law works here, we are perfectly legal to use the car with NO seatbelt because they weren't fitted when the car was made and well before they became compulsory. It is not legal to fit seat belts unless they pass a stringent examination by an automotive engineer. WTF!!! Fitting a belt to these cars so it will pass inspection is impossible. I've installed them the best way I can and use them even though they are not approved. I feel I and my passengers are safer with what I have fitted than without. I figure that almost ANY restraint is better than none and that those stupid regulations in fact, compromise our safety. As the old saying goes, I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six.
Thoroughly agree with sticking with the habit of putting one on when I get into the car.
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It is not difficult to meet approved engineering standards.
Quite another thing to meet a political engineer's standards.
 
ive been in rollovers. it can happen at slow speeds. ill take the belt every time. especially if someone hits you at higher speed.
 
It’s a personal decision but I would never consider wearing an after market seatbelt in a Model A or any other old car with a separate chassis and body. At best wearing seat belts in a Model A gives the driver a false sense of security; me, I much prefer to drive without, with the knowledge that my Vintage car offers me no crash protection and needs to be driven accordingly. In my modern cars with their fantastic seat belt systems, air bags, crumple zones, collapsable steering columns, carefully designed steering wheels and soft facias it’s completely different. As I said, it’s a personal decision but everyone must understand that wearing a seat belt in an A might help in a few circumstances but is outright dangerous in many more.
 
Who here has said that seat belts are useless in the A? Come on you have to be out there, fess up! Why would Denis say so if it's not true. Come on!
 
Cornishman said:
It’s a personal decision but I would never consider wearing an after market seatbelt in a Model A or any other old car with a separate chassis and body. At best wearing seat belts in a Model A gives the driver a false sense of security; me, I much prefer to drive without, with the knowledge that my Vintage car offers me no crash protection and needs to be driven accordingly. In my modern cars with their fantastic seat belt systems, air bags, crumple zones, collapsable steering columns, carefully designed steering wheels and soft facias it’s completely different. As I said, it’s a personal decision but everyone must understand that wearing a seat belt in an A might help in a few circumstances but is outright dangerous in many more.
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x2

John
 
When we drive any car we are playing the odds of being involved in a collision or not. In my opinion, it is just another game of odds as to whether a seat belt will help you or make things worse. It depends on the circumstances. I happen to belong to the school that believes they are more likely good than bad. Others may weigh things up differently but I'll keep wearing mine.
 
Cornishman said:
It’s a personal decision but I would never consider wearing an after market seatbelt in a Model A or any other old car with a separate chassis and body. At best wearing seat belts in a Model A gives the driver a false sense of security; me, I much prefer to drive without, with the knowledge that my Vintage car offers me no crash protection and needs to be driven accordingly. In my modern cars with their fantastic seat belt systems, air bags, crumple zones, collapsable steering columns, carefully designed steering wheels and soft facias it’s completely different. As I said, it’s a personal decision but everyone must understand that wearing a seat belt in an A might help in a few circumstances but is outright dangerous in many more.
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X3..Well said!
 
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