Sick to death of struggling
with a seat belt that is too tight or, worse, doesn't
reach around you at all? Don't curse your lovely
roundness. Read on.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) lap and shoulder seat belts reduce the
risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants by
45%. Seat belts are the most effective way to reduce
fatalities and serious injuries during automobile crashes.
With the exception of New Hampshire, every state in the
United States has laws requiring the use of seat belts by
adults. Alabama, California, Connecticut, the District of
Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland,
Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and the Virgin Islands, all have
seat belt laws that have been upgraded to “primary,”
meaning a citation can be written whenever a policeman sees
you in a moving car without a seat belt (as of January 2001).
The rest of the states and territories provide for “secondary”
enforcement, meaning an officer can't stop you for not
using seat belts, but can issue a citation for not doing so
if you are stopped for another reason.
While some people haven't gotten with the program, it is
estimated that approximately 70% of car drivers and occupants
nationwide buckle up. (In California the number is closer to
90%.) However, many who want to buckle up can't. Seat
belts often don't fit the larger driver.
NHTSA and federal regulations demand only that belts fits a
crash dummy equivalent of a person 6' tall and 215 pounds (the
95th percentile male of 1988). The 95th percentile male of
today is 256 pounds; the female is 226 pounds. These figures
vary between ethnic groups but, let me tell you, they vary a
lot more in my home and most others. Being a goddess has
never really been a job for the skinny women of the world; it
takes serious poundage to fulfill the standards. However, we
goddess' and our big hunky male counterparts aren't
being protected in our cars.
Using a seat belt is not only safer, it is the law. So why
don't some auto manufacturers see fit to provide
protection for drivers of all sizes? This isn't a case
of people being too big; this is about standard seat belts
being inadequate. While some people and organizations are
working to change attitudes of government and auto
manufacturers about the comfort and safety of big people in
cars, what can be done right now?
We shouldn't have to ask for adequate length in seat
belts. We certainly shouldn't be in a position of having
to drive without protection. Here are a couple of better-than-nothing
solutions.
The seat belt straps in your car can be replaced (at your
expense) with longer ones at auto body garages and seat belt
centers. There can be limitations depending on the design of
your belts and adding length may alter the effectiveness of
the belt.
The other option is obtaining a seat belt extender. These are
available, usually at no charge, from many car manufacturers.
No tests have been done to determine the safety of these
extenders, but it is surely safer to use an extender rather
than go beltless. Call your local car dealer to inquire about
availability and cost, if any.
It may be possible to find an extender that fits your car
from outside sources if none are available from your dealer,
but be careful. One company, Salesco, sells what they term a
“universal” extender. Don't be duped. Because
of the variety in design of latches, it is impossible to have
a one-style-fits-all extender. If you deal with a company
offering such a product, ask them specifically about your car's
year, make, and model. Then be sure they have a good return
policy.
You can also put on a little attitude yourself and contact
the manufacturer of your car if they aren't attentive to
your needs. Don't forget - this isn't about your
being too big for the belts, it's about the belts being
inadequate. Car manufacturers are more than happy to sell you
a car. They owe you safety.
The following car companies choose to not make seat belt
extenders available for their cars. Let them know you don't
appreciate their lack of concern about your life and safety.
Acura - 1919 Torrance
Blvd., Torrance, CA 90501-2746; Phone 800 382-2238.
Audi - Audi
of America, 3800 Hamlin Road, Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326; Phone 800
822-2834.
BMW (customized
seat belts available) - BMW of North America, LLC, 300 Chestnut Ridge
Road, Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07675; Phone 800 831-1117.
Honda - Consumr
Affairs, American Honda Motor
Company, 1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90501-2746; Phone
800 999-1009
Hyundai - Consumer Affairs,
Hyundai Motor America, 10550 Talbert Avenue, P.O. Box 20850,
Fountain Valley, CA 92728-0850; 800 633-5151
Jaguar (customized
seat belts available) - Jaguar Cars, 555 MacArthur Blvd., Mahwah, NJ
07430-2327, Attn: Customer Relationship Center; Phone 800-4.JAGUAR.
Kia - Kia Motors
America, Inc., 800 333-4kia.
Land Rover -
(customized seat belts available) - Phone 800 637-6837.
Mercedes-Benz - Mercedes Benz of North America, Inc., Customer Assistance Center, 1
Glenview Road, Montvale, NJ 07645; Phone 800 222-0100 or 800 367-6372.
Porsche - Porsche
Cars of North America, Inc., Manager, Owner Relations, 100 West Liberty
Street, P.O. Box 30911, Reno NV; Phone 895-20-3911 or 800 545-8039.
Subaru - Subaru of America, Inc., Subaru Plaza, P.O. Box 6000, Cherry Hill, NJ
08034-6000; Phone 800 782-2783.
Volkswagen - Volkswagen United States, Inc., 3800 Hamlin Road,
Auburn Hills, MI 48326; Phone 800 822-8987
Interested in getting more involved or in learning more about
seat belt legislation?
Check out Elizabeth Fisher's web site.
A Word About Airbags
While airbags are
very effective in preventing serious injury to occupants of a vehicle
involved in an accident, there is one consideration that fat people
should consider. In order for an airbag to be both safe and effective,
the driver must be able to sit far enough back from the steering wheel
so that there is 10" between the point where the airbag deploys and
their breastbone. If you don't meet this qualification, you should
consider getting an airbag on-off switch installed on your car. For more
information, visit the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration web site and read their online brochure. You have
to have permission from NHTSA to have the switch installed.
