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Sourced from: USA Today, 7/12/00, Page 1B
Safety Concerns With Seat Belt Extenders for Large People; Some Automakers Won’t Provide
| Situation |
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. Some automakers refuse to sell seat belt extenders for large people
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. Honda, Volkswagen, Subaru, Isuzu, Porsche, Kia & Hyundai do not offer extenders
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. Say they can't vouch for performance of seat belt extender in crash
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. GM, Ford & DC provide seat belt extenders; Says their engineers positive that people better off belted with extender than going without
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. Some large people too embarrassed to request extender from car dealer
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. NHTSA petitioned to review standards of factory-installed or otherwise government-tested extended safety belts
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| Significant Points |
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. Seat belt extenders modify both belt & air bag systems affecting how far person is away from air bag when belt tightens in crash
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. 49 states have mandatory seat belt laws & police increasingly ticketing unbelted drivers
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. Americans heavier & larger than ever, so more people finding belts that meet today's federal standard difficult, if not impossible, to wear
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. NHTSA hasn't tested extenders; Sees no obstacle to offering longer belts, as many automakers do
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| Background |
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. NHTSA says belts must fit around standard crash dummy in the most forward sitting position, plus 4”; Standard dummy, based on ‘60 statistics
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. Safety advocates & government already acknowledge need to make sure car safety devices protect children, elderly, short people & pregnant women
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| Says |
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. “I can't see any discernible reason why any manufacturer would not offer an extender. Given the potential numbers of people involved, NHTSA is right to be looking at this.”
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. --- Phil Haseltine, president of Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, group funded by automakers
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