Why are safety mods illegal?

[familyman]

Just a thought that I can't figure out.

Why are certain additional safety items, in particular race harnesses and roll cages, illegal (or in the case of roll cages very strict terms)?

I cannot fathom why these items (and maybe others that aren't coming to mind) which increase the occupants safety would be frowned upon by authorities.

Can someone help answer this?

[subieboy]

sits back, watches and waits...

[MercuryFree]

If you incorrectly install a race harness and then have an accident, it can break your neck.

[madmike]

 familyman said:

Just a thought that I can't figure out.

Why are certain additional safety items, in particular race harnesses and roll cages, illegal (or in the case of roll cages very strict terms)?

I cannot fathom why these items (and maybe others that aren't coming to mind) which increase the occupants safety would be frowned upon by authorities.

Can someone help answer this?

They are not illegal dude..

They need to be checked and certified to make sure that they are in fact safe and not a hazard.

My car has rollcage,Race harness and to have them on the road requires an authority card which is subject to a check every 12 months and is issued through Motorsport New Zealand.

It's not illegal at all to have these items. Just needs to be checked by the right people.

[familyman]

Knew of authority card for cage, didn't know same applied for harnesses (in hind sight it is now pretty bloody obvious). :

Now that is sweet as, and I admit have not gone through the process myself but just thought that ANYTHING that increases the chance of survival in event of accident, would be not only made a simple process (LVVTA cert for example) but maybe even rewarded and incouraged (perhaps lesser ACC levies at rego time?)

[familyman]

 MercuryFree said:

If you incorrectly install a race harness and then have an accident, it can break your neck.

And, oh yeah. Never thought of that either.

[WRXER]

 familyman said:

Knew of authority card for cage, didn't know same applied for harnesses (in hind sight it is now pretty bloody obvious). :

Now that is sweet as, and I admit have not gone through the process myself but just thought that ANYTHING that increases the chance of survival in event of accident, would be not only made a simple process (LVVTA cert for example) but maybe even rewarded and incouraged (perhaps lesser ACC levies at rego time?)

Um mate I would rather drive a car without a rollcage around on the road then with one that has it in if I was involved in a crash.... Just think about it lol... Those cars are designed to have crumple zones for a reason, the rollcage is designed to be ur saviour if all else fails and also assumes you will be wearing the full safety gear if you roll or involved in a high speed crash... Have you actually hit your head on a cage bar before?? It fricking hurts as I hjave done it in mine multiple times. If you were in a crash your brains would be goop afterwards, hence the reason they are illegal unless used for motor racing as you are going at speeds and in situations the car's safety mechanisms in stock form were not designed for.

Plus also your car is strengthened up alot with a cage. Crash into another car, you will be safe but the occupants in the other car will most likely be worst off.

[familyman]

Well said. Does make a lot sense.

See, I told you I was missing something blatantly obvious.

Well cheers for the info everyone. That counts as my "What have you learned today"

[aim]

Nice little read. But tbh, You getup way to early... Either that, or you stay up way too late to be on a forum

[Guest keltik]

The fact most of this thread occured between midnight and 2am stuns me.

But yes - i wouldnt want to be in a caged car without a helmet on. Being a tall bloke - there are far too many hard immovable objects to smack my dome on.

Also having been in a pretty decent crash - i like crumple zones. Id rather the energy of hitting a wall be used to turn the car into a banana than to liquify my spine.

[666SubSpeed]

when I asked a guy selling race harnesses why they wern't in cars as standard as they would be lots safer than a lap/sash belt he said that if you had an accident and needed to be pulled from a car the ambo staff or whoever wouldn't know how to release them especially if it was on fire or something like that anyway. I spose it makes sense but I would still rather have a cool race harness. 8)

[Guest keltik]

They arent in cars standard because i dont know if youv ever worn one - they are a pain in the ass. You cant move in your seat and they take ages to fit

[Guest loren]

yes they are a nightmare, you can't look round for traffic, or look back for reversing, can't reach

all the controls, can't pull your undies out of your crack etc.

[666SubSpeed]

poo I never thought they would be that bad but I spose you dont wanna be sliding around in your seat when racing.

[Koom]

They are also a pain in the arse to adjust for different people. Really only suit one person sitting in each specific seat at all times i.e. driver or co-driver.

[madmike]

 Koom said:

They are also a pain in the arse to adjust for different people. Really only suit one person sitting in each specific seat at all times i.e. driver or co-driver.

I can confirm this!!!!!

Pain in the arse putting someone in the passengers seat when they are a little larger than the normal co-driver...

[Koom]

Did a sponsors ride day a while ago. Went from a 120+ kg dude to a ~55kg tasty teenaged girl. Wasn't a bad job tightening the straps as had to have my head in her lap and hands around her thighs while I adjusted everything. So there is the occasional upside to them......

[dubbedup]

OD'Koom

[Guest loren]

head in her lap??? were you tightening it with your teeth?

[Koom]

Always do things the hard way

Na I was trying to get to the crotch belt which is right underneath the seat and only way in is through the front. Normally adjusted without anyone in the seat, guys get asked to step out of the vehicle while I do it, (tidy) girls get asked to stay still and smile.

[subieboy]

 Koom said:

Always do things the hard way

Na I was trying to get to the crotch belt which is right underneath the seat and only way in is through the front. Normally adjusted without anyone in the seat, guys get asked to step out of the vehicle while I do it, (tidy) girls get asked to stay still and smile.

I like that reasoning...

[aim]

Well, it was once said the best form of contraception was an engineering degree... Mind you, that was a chick from my class who said that...

[subieboy]

 aim said:

Well, it was once said the best form of contraception was an engineering degree... Mind you, that was a chick from my class who said that...

Was she "hot" or "Not" as that may answer the question

[swiftbrad]

 subieboy']

[quote name='aim said:

Well, it was once said the best form of contraception was an engineering degree... Mind you, that was a chick from my class who said that...

/quote]

Was she "hot" or "Not" as that may answer the question

pretty sure the forementioned stands

[aim]

 subieboy said:

Was she "hot" or "Not" as that may answer the question

Lol, yeah I guess?