Not wearing a seatbelt because the car did not have one

[160B]

Published: 01/22/17 10:08 am EST.Updated: 01/22/17 10:10 am EST.

MARION COUNTY, Ohio - A man is dead after a crash in Marion County Sunday morning according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
OSHP said Thomas Young, 53, was driving a 1928 Ford Model A westbound on State Route 95 east of LaRue around 12:35 a.m. Sunday.
Young, from LaRue, drove off the right side of the road then overcorrected and drove of the left side of the road according to state troopers.
OSHP said the car hit a tree and Young was thrown from the vehicle.
Young was not wearing a seatbelt because the car did not have one according to OSHP.
Young was pronounced dead at the scene.








http://www.10tv.com/article/man-kill...-marion-county

[Synchro909]

To fit seatbelts here, they must be inspected and approved by an engineer. Most don't fit them because it is sooo dificult in our cars to meet the standards.I have fitted them but not had them inspected. I wear them every outing and if ever there was a crash, I'd consider them a 100% success if the Police took me to court over it. At least I would "be here to be there"!!!

[mike657894]

I need to get on making myself a set. Haven't got my car road worthy quite yet.(still no shocks).

[pooch]

Don't worry, inspectors over here don't know Model A/s had shocks in the first place.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by mike657894

I need to get on making myself a set. Haven't got my car road worthy quite yet.(still no shocks).

Originally Posted by pooch

Don't worry, inspectors over here don't know Model A/s had shocks in the first place.

Drove mine for years without.

[Kevin in NJ]

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Originally Posted by pooch

Don't worry, inspectors over here don't know Model A/s had shocks in the first place.

It is not the inspectors that require shocks.

It has been my experience A's with good springs are not manageable above 20-25 MPH without shocks.

[Chippy Minton]

I'm sure many other people died on the same day despite wearing seat belts and even if they are fitted to a Model A it will never be like a modern car. Without crumple zones, collapsible steering columns and airbags all round but with 90 year old suspension and brakes an A needs driving under control all the time. I never drive my A on roads where it will be vulnerable to fast traffic, trucks and traffic density and anyway it is much more at home on the back roads. Yes, accidents may still happen but that is true when I use those same roads on my motorcycle, bicycle or even on foot.

[Synchro909]

I think there can be no doubt that our risk of accident while driving our Model As is higher than when in our modern cars. Care is essential. If I am going to be driving my A, I NEVER touch a drop of alcohol before hand. I figure I have to be right on top of my game and impairment starts with the first sip of booze.
I'm not making any suggestion that this unfortunate Model A driver was anything but sober.

[René W]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

I think there can be no doubt that our risk of accident while driving our Model As is higher than when in our modern cars. Care is essential. If I am going to be driving my A, I NEVER touch a drop of alcohol before hand. I figure I have to be right on top of my game and impairment starts with the first sip of booze.
I'm not making any suggestion that this unfortunate Model A driver was anything but sober.

If i understand this right you are drinking alcohol driving a modern car?
When you are driving a modern car beware of model A drivers and don't crash into them..........they are probably wearing no seat belts.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by René W

If i understand this right you are drinking alcohol driving a modern car?NO!
When you are driving a modern car beware of model A drivers and don't crash into them..........they are probably wearing no seat belts.

Please don't try to twist my words.

[Cornishman]

Originally Posted by Chippy Minton

I'm sure many other people died on the same day despite wearing seat belts and even if they are fitted to a Model A it will never be like a modern car. Without crumple zones, collapsible steering columns and airbags all round but with 90 year old suspension and brakes an A needs driving under control all the time. I never drive my A on roads where it will be vulnerable to fast traffic, trucks and traffic density and anyway it is much more at home on the back roads. Yes, accidents may still happen but that is true when I use those same roads on my motorcycle, bicycle or even on foot.

I go along with this. As I read it a lot of you are getting a false sense of security because you have fitted seat belts to your car. Modern cars have taken huge steps forward in crash safety and the seat belt is the tip of the iceberg. Fair enough if you have a seat belt in your A it might prevent you getting thrown out of the car but it will not stop you smashing your head on the windshield, or crushing your chest on the steering column. Nor will it protect your organs from the g forces created by the impact. Yo cannot build secondary safety into a Model A Ford so therefore you need to stay on top of the primary safety issues. In my case that's not using it in unsuitable conditions on unsuitable roads at inappropriate speeds. I keep to where the traffic will be light, the roads gentle and I can travel at my own speed in my own space. I drive carefully because I have no seat belt, air bag or crumple zones, I approach braking situations carefully because I know that I have a mechanical braking system that is connected to the road through narrow, low grip tyres. I go around bends slowly because of those same tyres and a suspension system that has more in common with a horse drawn cart than the cars that I'm used to. If I want to go far and fast I use another vehicle; my motorcycle, turbocharged Golf GTi and Porsche have most of the safety items that the 21st Century has provided and at times I rely on those items to keep me safe. The Model A is something else and I, yes me, actually feel safer because I do not have a seat belt to make me feel more protected than I know I would be if I actually had to rely on it in earnest.

[Mike V. Florida]

Here is how I figure it, could he, due to the severity of the crash, have died with one, yes. But he absolutely died without one.

[Bruce Adams]

Mine are there to keep me in, in case of the door popping open on a curve and bump, and having worn seat belts for over fifty years, I feel better with them. I remember Chevron Gas would sell and install them for $5 per set in 1965 or so.

[Franchise_24]

Wow this is about 40 minutes from where I live. I don't know the name though. Prayers to the family.

[Smooth_One]

I'm putting them in my car! My wife and baby will be riding with me sometimes and we all want to make it home after a fun day of cruising.

[BillLee/Chandler, TX]

See http://cedarcreekas.org/TechTopics/index.php for one example of installing seatbelts in a Tudor.

[JDupuis]

My condolences to Thomas Young's family and friends. Jeff

[Lona]

Plenty of threads here on installing seat belts. IMHO, every owner should have them installed. And, if you are going to do it, take the next step and install retractable shoulder belts at the same time. Seat belts alone might save you but in a head-on, you are most certainly going to leave some teeth and face parts on the steering wheel or windshield.

Glen

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Lona

Plenty of threads here on installing seat belts. IMHO, every owner should have them installed. And, if you are going to do it, take the next step and install retractable shoulder belts at the same time. Seat belts alone might save you but in a head-on, you are most certainly going to leave some teeth and face parts on the steering wheel or windshield.

Glen

At least half of the Model As here are open cars. You can't put a shoulder belt in those.....Next idea?
Well, here it is. In all of my As, I have a lap belt for each passenger and either a lap/sash belt or racing style harness for the driver. I'm usually the driver and I don't want to be impaled on the steering column. Wearing them makes me feel much safer but I know I am still not as safe as in a modern car.
I think equally important for safety is your safe driving ability/techniques

[Karl Wescott]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

At least half of the Model As here are open cars. You can't put a shoulder belt in those.....Next idea?
Well, here it is. In all of my As, I have a lap belt for each passenger and either a lap/sash belt or racing style harness for the driver. I'm usually the driver and I don't want to be impaled on the steering column. Wearing them makes me feel much safer but I know I am still not as safe as in a modern car.
I think equally important for safety is your safe driving ability/techniques

It is possible to put retractable 3 point belts in an open car, while mine is neither A or original we did it. The package tray for the chest harness is available on roadsters and could be put in between the seat and seat frame on a phaeton.

Originally Posted by Licensed to kill

Not a fan of belts in a model A. While i certainly understand the dangers of being thrown out in an accident (which is WAY more likely in an A than a modern car), I also understand that being strapped in with the fuel tank virtually in your lap has it's inherent risks well in a accident. I don't like either consideration. As someone else mentioned, the bigger risk, IMO is being thrown out just by the door coming open in a curve (for the passenger) and for this, and this only, I would consider belts.

It is quite rare to be trapped by a seat belt and still be conscious and alert enough and not injured to badly to get out of a vehicle quickly if needed. As a volunteer firefighter I have been to many a wreck and can only recall having to cut seat belts once with the occupants having minor injury (and that car had rolled over several times and down an embankment ending up upside down where without seat belts they would have been seriously injured). And 3 point harnesses are far better than just seat belts.

I would not worry about a perfect installation in an antique car that would not have had them otherwise... 50% of something is infinitely better than nothing.