Are race harnesses road legal?

[therealpigdog]

I'm looking at putting a race harness into an E36 coupe using the existing seat belt bolts (no cage). On the basis that it is a proper race harness is this road legal?

[ewenm]

Yes. My Caterham has FIA race harnesses and is road legal.

[DBSV8]

yes they are legal , however not advisable to use them in my Lotus , if driving at speed

[Richard C]

You will get some frequent hassle because any following police will not see a shoulder strap between your right shoulder and the B pillar.

[BertBert]

Richard C said:

You will get some frequent hassle because any following police will not see a shoulder strap between your right shoulder and the B pillar.

No you won't. There are quite a few cars (such as caterhams) that have harnesses as the norm. Plod-hassle from having them is not experienced.

Bert

[Johnnytheboy]

Aren't Megane R26Rs fitted with them as standard?

So they must be.

[therealpigdog]

Johnnytheboy said:

Aren't Megane R26Rs fitted with them as standard?

So they must be.

They do, but are attached to the cage - I'll be bolting to existing seat belt mounts and I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

It's the fact that they are not standard that makes me question the legality.
Harnesses will be full race spec and fitted by a pro, so no concern that it will be a botch job - my safety is more important than that!

[JM]

therealpigdog said:

Johnnytheboy said:

Aren't Megane R26Rs fitted with them as standard?

So they must be.

They do, but are attached to the cage - I'll be bolting to existing seat belt mounts and I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

It's the fact that they are not standard that makes me question the legality.
Harnesses will be full race spec and fitted by a pro, so no concern that it will be a botch job - my safety is more important than that!

Is it a four point harness?

I suppose it will come down to where the fourth point is fixed to.

[flemke]

I've had 4- and 6-pts MOT'd numerous times, never with a single comment.
Technically, there is an argument that a rotary release mechanism is not legal, only the push button-type is, notwithstanding the fact that the push button-type is much more difficult to disengage in case of emergency.

[carinaman]

I don't think so.

Someone I know was stopped for supposedly not being on the MID.

He was insured. They didn't do him for the four harnesses fitted to both front seats of his car.

[andy_s]

DBSV8 said:

yes they are legal , however not advisable to use them in my Lotus , if driving at speed

That's still the best car I've ever seen on PH's...

[DBSV8]

^^^^

Thanks , I'm under pressure from the wife to sell !! Car's in France and I'm at work in Russia !!

I was chatting to a chap who used to race them in the 60s when i bought her, he asked if the car had seatbelts fitted , when i said it had a 4 point harness fitted , his advice was either remove it or don't fasten it. If you go above 60 , and crash your best chance would be to be thrown out , not sat on a fuel tank with the suspension around your ankles !!

cheers

[andy_s]

DBSV8 said:

^^^^

Thanks , I'm under pressure from the wife to sell !! Car's in France and I'm at work in Russia !!

I was chatting to a chap who used to race them in the 60s when i bought her, he asked if the car had seatbelts fitted , when i said it had a 4 point harness fitted , his advice was either remove it or don't fasten it. If you go above 60 , and crash your best chance would be to be thrown out , not sat on a fuel tank with the suspension around your ankles !!

cheers

It's a good job you're easily seen then...!

I'm in the same boat, I'm in Algeria and the Lotus in Scotland, still, it's great whenever I do get a go. Wife and head say 'liquidate'; heart says 'wheeeeeeeeeee!'.

[anonymous-user]

BertBert said:

Richard C said:

You will get some frequent hassle because any following police will not see a shoulder strap between your right shoulder and the B pillar.

No you won't. There are quite a few cars (such as caterhams) that have harnesses as the norm. Plod-hassle from having them is not experienced.

Bert

I got pulled in a 205 GTi a few years ago that had a cage and harnesses in it for myself and the passenger 'not wearing a seatbelt' but as soon as the copper approached the drivers window he looked in, saw the harnesses and just said "oh, sorry, couldn't see your belt from behind. On your way". Happened again about 3 months later but the Police just apologised and sent us on our way again.

So yes, you may get pulled for apparently not wearing a seatbelt, but it's never a problem.

[Vipers]

Question out of curiosity, do race harnesses have those inertia gizmos fitted, or are they adjusted as tight as need to be, and thats it?

[flemke]

Vipers said:

Question out of curiosity, do race harnesses have those inertia gizmos fitted, or are they adjusted as tight as need to be, and thats it?

Normally no inertial reels.
I'm not sure, but it wouldn't surprise me if inertial reels would not pass scrutineering in most series.

[UncleRic]

Vipers said:

Question out of curiosity, do race harnesses have those inertia gizmos fitted, or are they adjusted as tight as need to be, and thats it?

Tight. Definatley.

[silverthorn2151]

I thought the collective and learned PH view was that a full harness without a cage wasn't advisable.

[drmotorsport]

I have never had any problems with my race car on the road with 4 point harness. Passed MOT's numerous times without comment and sat next to a few traffic BIB at traffic lights etc with no issue.

[UncleRic]

silverthorn2151 said:

I thought the collective and learned PH view was that a full harness without a cage wasn't advisable.

Other way around wasn't it? Bad idea having a full cage without a harness.