Seatbelt 'give' could rob you of life

By SCOTT MacLEOD

Six New Zealanders die in crashes each year because of the type of seatbelt fitted to their cars, a study suggests.

The common "inertia reel" seatbelt is coiled around a spool that locks in a crash, but the belt is loosely wrapped around the spool and can stretch out by a dangerous amount.

One solution is a "webbing grabber" jaw that grips the belt at the opening of the mechanism, rather than inside at the spool.

Webbing grabbers have been available for at least 10 years and are widely used overseas, but at least 500,000 cars on New Zealand roads that are suitable for that type of belt are instead fitted with inertia reels.

A study by Monash University in Melbourne found that replacing inertia belts with webbing-grabbers would trim "total road trauma" by 1.2 per cent in New Zealand - equal to six lives and dozens of injuries a year.

The Government has seen the research and is looking at forcing car owners to fit webbing grabbers when their inertia reel belts wear out.

Land Transport Safety Authority spokesman Andy Knackstedt and Automobile Association spokesman George Fairbairn are urging motorists to opt for webbing-grabbers over inertia reels if they have the chance.

The LTSA said in a paper that webbing clamps could "substantially" boost a car occupant's chances of surviving a crash.

The AA said in its Directions magazine that the typical inertia reel belts stretched out by 30cm in a crash at city speeds - enough for some people to hit the steering wheel.

"Give your forehead a good slap with an open palm, then imagine the impact of a two-handed swing from a baseball bat and double it," the AA said.

"You've now completed your slow-motion crash test."

The biggest importer of webbing clamps in New Zealand, Autoliv, is compiling a list of vehicles that could be re-fitted with the new belts without causing structural hassles.

Autoliv surveyed 834,000 vehicles on NZ roads and found that 250,000 could easily be converted to webbing-grabbers.

A further 227,000 would be suitable for upgrade when an improved type of webbing-grabber is introduced in February.

Autoliv, which also imports inertia reel belts, disputed the AA's claim that they stretch 30cm.

National manager Chris Sweetman said it was more like 10cm, which could still be dangerous.

"Yes, webbing clamps are safer; they have to be safer," he said.

"But every accident is different, and it can depend on a driver's seating position. Sitting back in your seat means you have less chance of hitting the wheel."

Mr Sweetman said the cost of fitting an inertia reel belt was $120 to $150, plus labour.

A webbing clamp was $147 to $165, plus labour.

Because of the extra cost, he opposed the idea of forcing motorists to switch to webbing clamps.

For example, the owner of a 1963 Ford Anglia worth $300 would baulk at spending more than the car's value on two front seatbelts.

The Government's proposal is that inertia belts that are faded, worn out or damaged be replaced with webbing grabbers if available for that make of vehicle.

A consultation paper said that webbing clamps could be more dangerous for elderly drivers in low-speed crashes because the lack of "play" in the belt could cause whiplash.

But the paper said webbing clamps were generally safer.

The Government will decide in April whether to introduce the law.

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