I never use the seatbelt so...

[V6GTO]

..if I removed the attachment clip from in between the seat and the tunnel, will the car still be road legal?

Thanks in advance,

Martin.

[joust]

Yes - as long as you have a method of restraint.

J

[V6GTO]

joust said:

Yes - as long as you have a method of restraint. J

Elastic band, anyone?

I only ever use the harness, and I allways end up sitting on the seat belt attachment point when getting in (must have a big bum!) which isn't too pleasant.

Martin.

[AMG Merc]

V6GTO said:

I only ever use the harness...

Ya poser El Jenkings - bet ya look proper Bo driving down Marbella High Street like that - good on ya mate!

[paulcundy]

joust said:

Yes - as long as you have a method of restraint. J

UK legal requires the restraint to be able to be fixed with one hand. So no AFAIK the track harness is not road legal.

Regards
Paul C

[AMG Merc]

paulcundy said:

joust said: Yes - as long as you have a method of restraint. J UK legal requires the restraint to be able to be fixed with one hand. So no AFAIK the track harness is not road legal. Regards Paul C

Paul, do you mean that it IS legal to drive using the harness in the UK so long as you have a normal seatbelt fitted as well (like we do)?

[paulcundy]

Good question. AFAIK to be legal the seat belt fitted has to be one hand only useable. I would imagine if its fitted it must be used, cos the law says you must use the seatbelts fitted. If you use the harness you are not using the road legal one.
ANy other part time lawyers out there?
Regards
PauL C

[joust]

paulcundy said:

Good question. AFAIK to be legal the seat belt fitted has to be one hand only useable. I would imagine if its fitted it must be used, cos the law says you must use the seatbelts fitted. If you use the harness you are not using the road legal one. ANy other part time lawyers out there? Regards PauL C

Not sure that's correct paul, as a few Caterhams / Atoms et. all pass SVA without a 3 point I'm sure?

Quick Google found that "E5b" of the SVA has specific instructions on how to test "harnesses", so I'd imagine if they pass a SVA they would be "road legal".

J

[V6GTO]

It's OK because I can get it on with one hand. (I just tried it)

Martin.

[Mr Noble]

Many cars are supplied with only harnesses. Also many kit cars only have them. They all need to pass an MOT to be road legal, so it must be road legal to only have a harness. I would say!

[actech]

A 3 point belt or harness is mandatory for all UK cars. The clips on the standard Willans harness are road legal and therefore you can use them in place of a normal seatbelt.

If you've got an aircraft style release clip aka an FIA approved harness then they are not.

[joust]

Mr Noble said:

Many cars are supplied with only harnesses. Also many kit cars only have them. They all need to pass an MOT to be road legal, so it must be road legal to only have a harness. I would say!

Thinking about this, the MG SV comes only with a 4-point harness that has the shoulder straps on inertia reels.

The EVO review says they are a faff to put on, so not sure about the "one hand thing" at all now.

J

[joust]

actech said:

If you've got an aircraft style release clip aka an FIA approved harness then they are not.

So the FIA approved one isn't road legal, but presumably safer than a 3 point...

Don't you just love the rule makers!

J

[Matt_FP]

joust said:

actech said: If you've got an aircraft style release clip aka an FIA approved harness then they are not. So the FIA approved one isn't road legal, but presumably safer than a 3 point... Don't you just love the rule makers! J

Its actualy not as stupid as it first sounds.

The reasoning is whilst the FIA one is safer if your arm is smashed in several places by the side of the car coming in theres going to be marshals on site to get you out extremely quickly - plus you'll have fire surpressant etc. on board to deal with the immediate aftermath.

On the road in a road car its a different story hence all restraints must be able to be undone with one hand.

Matt

[joust]

Matt_FP said:

Its actualy not as stupid as it first sounds. The reasoning is whilst the FIA one is safer if your arm is smashed in several places by the side of the car coming in theres going to be marshals on site to get you out extremely quickly - plus you'll have fire surpressant etc. on board to deal with the immediate aftermath. On the road in a road car its a different story hence all restraints must be able to be undone with one hand. Matt

Perhaps I'm missing something, but every harness I've seen (e.g. in a Formula Palmer Audi) can be undone with a single hand.

Quick twist of the release catch and all four/five catches release and you can get out.

So - still don't follow that...??

J

[paulcundy]

Justin, I think its doing it up?

Anyway its pretty clear from those who know better that in fact harnesses with car type "clunk click" securing are OK. Harnesses with aero style releases are not.

Regards
Paul C

[joust]

paulcundy said:

Justin, I think its doing it up? Anyway its pretty clear from those who know better that in fact harnesses with car type "clunk click" securing are OK. Harnesses with aero style releases are not. Regards Paul C

that's what I've learned!

J

[V6GTO]

paulcundy said:

I think its doing it up?

Why would you need to do it up if your arm is broken? If it can be undone with one hand then surely (don't call me Shirley!) that'd be OK?

Martin.