21 replies to this topic

[alexcrosse]

They're fine to use on the road. Every single MSA & FIA rally car has a proper buckle with 5 points minimum on both seats, and they're all road registered, MOT'ed & legal. Total *******.

 

They may not all be legal for type approval, but retro fit isn't a problem. And the buckle would never, ever fail. So when would it even bear any relevance in an insurance claim?

 

I think this all started because seat belt manufacturers call the normal buckle up ones 'road harnesses'. But this is more because 5-6 point harnesses with proper buckles are a total PITA to do up all the time, not ideally suited for road use. 

[Sleepy Stu]

Matt has hit the nail on the head. MOT has nothing to do with legality so is irrelevant.

 

Harnesses with the aircraft style release do not have the correct e-marking for road use and therefore are not legal. With regards to insurance my reference was to them finding any reason to get out a claim and illegal belts would seem like a prime opportunity.

 

As already mentioned if a car comes with them out of the factory then the manufacturer will have already got the correct type approval and as such the belt will have an appropriate e-marking or BS mark.

[mini93]

If you look at the material the road harnesses are made of, its the same type material as OE seat belts, this is because they have a certain amount of stretch built in. As such it allows you to slow down to a degree at impact. The 3-inch race harnesses are of a different material, stonger but doesnt have any give. which can lead to some whiplash issues.

 

For harnesses I'd go to TRS... but no one mentions them often.

[alexcrosse]

Nope, FIA harnesses ARE legal, its even in the IVA handbook.

 

"Note 1: A British Standard BS3254 Part 1 1988 or evidence of FIA 8853-98 approval for a harness belt is acceptable" 

 

3 inch harnesses do have give, they yield slightly in a crash which is why they need replacing, all belt material is similar.

[mini-geek]

That's a fairly new regulation then..

[alexcrosse]

Few years. 

[splintercat]

Read this with some interest. If certain seat harnesses aren't road legal.......why on earth fit them? No brainer really is it? Why endanger life and invalidate insurance just for looks/status or style?
Come on peeps.....be cool out there BUT be legal.


P.s I'd personally go for Schroth but that because that's what my cat is called.