Miata Mailing List: June 1995, Message #164
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   From: a.mccombs3@genie.geis.com
Subject: Seat Belt Extension?
   Date: Fri, 2 Jun 1995 20:48:22 -0400

Drew Derbyshire, in posting re: technonet stuff, mentioned in passing
something about ordering a seat belt extension from customer svc. for his
Miata.  What is this thing?  I never heard of it before.  I find that the
belts fit me just fine (and I'm less than 2" taller than you, Drew), but
wife Anne has a chronic complaint with most shoulder harnesses, that the
strap does not pass over a comfortable area of her - well, chest.  She ends
up putting 2 - 3 twists in the seat belt/shoulder harness just above the
buckle, to move the point at which the shoulder harness separates from the
seat belt, closer to the center of her waist and not so close to the hip.
(We're talking an inch or two, by doing this).  She's had some discussions
with other women car engineers, and it seems that NHTSA and DOT always use a
10 to 90th percentile MALE in configuring seat belts and etc. - little
thought goes into the different physiological requirements of women.
Anyway, if I read this correctly, it sounds like a device which might
accomplish what Anne is trying to do, without tangling up the belts.  I've
never cared for that idea.  But then, Anne doesn't care for getting smashed
in the wrong places by a shoulder harness, either.
 
                                                --jack M. & KANSEI--