Should roll bar padding be compulsory?
Discussion
After recent tragic events should roll bars in cars such as the Ultima have padding to protect the head area in an accident?
Next question is would the factory supply moulded padding to fit the roll bar shape and perhaps an alacantara overlay (Velcro fastened) to finish off the interior.
Next question is would the factory supply moulded padding to fit the roll bar shape and perhaps an alacantara overlay (Velcro fastened) to finish off the interior.
bluesatin said:
After recent tragic events should roll bars in cars such as the Ultima have padding to protect the head area in an accident?
Next question is would the factory supply moulded padding to fit the roll bar shape and perhaps an alacantara overlay (Velcro fastened) to finish off the interior.
This guy did some realy nice job to his roll bars! I saw it in the flesh and was perfect! real leather(he was/is? a furniture maker among other things...) and I definitely would have something like this in my car when I had one like these
GTRene
Smart leather trim is NOT crash padding and will not protect your head in an accident. You can get assymetric crash padding so it needn't be visually intrusive, but you need a significant thickness (at least half an inch) of impact absorbant material between your head and the metal bar. For road use (i.e. when you are not wearing a crash helmet) you would want a lot more than half an inch.
GreenV8S said:
Smart leather trim is NOT crash padding and will not protect your head in an accident. You can get assymetric crash padding so it needn't be visually intrusive, but you need a significant thickness (at least half an inch) of impact absorbant material between your head and the metal bar. For road use (i.e. when you are not wearing a crash helmet) you would want a lot more than half an inch.
I agree, and this man done that! firts covered it with absorbant material, and then he wraped it up with a nice finishing touch
leather very nicely done...but I thougd the picture tells that story as you can see how thick it all becomes! GTRene
>> Edited by GTRene on Sunday 19th February 13:35
It looks very smart, and if it has got crash padding under there too then it's a nice job. GTRene said:
I have seen paddings hold with tie rips...then the covering would do realy justice to a nice fast car like the Ultima GTR...
This roll bar padding is 20mm thick making the overall diameter of the bar plus padding about 80mm. This does partially obscure forward vision at traffic islands when cars may be coming at you from "2 o-clock". You need to move your head around.
bluesatin said:Available and advised, yes. Compulsory, never. What next, air bags? If safety was a high concern I would buy a Volvo and stop riding motorbikes.
After recent tragic events should roll bars in cars such as the Ultima have padding to protect the head area in an accident?
Over the years I've ridden Harleys in just shorts. Stupid I know, but it was my choice. I have nothing against safety equipment whatsoever and I always ride in full leathers and armour these days, but creeping compulsion is a pet hate of mine.
Smoking ban, hunting ban, this week even the suggestion of a ban on patio heaters. Compulsion is a very scary word, particularly when an Ultima is so individual.
Smoking ban, hunting ban, this week even the suggestion of a ban on patio heaters. Compulsion is a very scary word, particularly when an Ultima is so individual.
bluesatin said:
After recent tragic events should roll bars in cars such as the Ultima have padding to protect the head area in an accident?
I don't have any padding. How would your head hit the roll cage unless
a) Your seatbelt failed
b) your neck failed
c) the roll cage deformed
?
If a is a possibility then we should address that, if b happens then padding won't help, if c happens the likelihood is that the accelerations were so large that you wouldn't survive anyway.
Your first post says "After recent tragic events", are you suggesting that the injuries sustained in the recent accident could have been avoided with padding? If it concerns you then why don't you have no padding and wear an open face helmet?
Even with a 6 point harness your head will hit the steering wheel in quite modest accidents. If they didn't have a little give in them your head would snap clean off even with a HANS device.
It is my opinion (based on no facts or knowledge) that the potential cause of head injuries in a side imact comes from the stiffening section just below the door window. I don't know how you fix that other than driving carefully and keeping the more adventurous driving for when you've got a lid on at a racetrack.
I do intend to fit roll cage padding before I drive my car again though.
It is my opinion (based on no facts or knowledge) that the potential cause of head injuries in a side imact comes from the stiffening section just below the door window. I don't know how you fix that other than driving carefully and keeping the more adventurous driving for when you've got a lid on at a racetrack.
I do intend to fit roll cage padding before I drive my car again though.
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