by JCS » Thu Apr 18, 2019 10:59 am
Guys
Something not discussed here but which may be of relevance to some. During the early 60’s I had completed my automotive apprenticeship and had been promoted to fleet engineer. This was with the main dyer and finisher of seat belts amongst other items, like undersea cable protection. Although I was mainly responsible for the vehicle fleet and some plant I was also engaged in discussions regarding vehicle safety issues particularly involving safety belting, which we treated, dyed and rot proofed.
On one of these discussion occasions we were treated to a Home Office (Police) film of a notorious junction/ cross road somewhere in the south of England. The cameras had been set up to capture what you could only describe as “people flying through windscreens”.
At this road junction it showed quite clearly that if you had a laminated windscreen and drove without wearing a seat belt, then your chances of surviving a windscreen protrusion were just about zero. These windscreens were not nick named “chippers” for no reason. On the other hand most survived a toughen screen, (most of which were Zebra Zoned) although they may come through with heavy facial injury. Dogs never survived a laminated screen break through.
Laminated screens have a few advantages, but really require any rider to be wearing a seat belt and we are lucky with the S type as they have belt hard point attachments.
As an aside it is surprising how many passengers are seriously injured, even fatally by being struck by a dog on its way out through the windscreen. If you fit a laminated windscreen then fit safety belts at least for your passengers, even if you choose to drive without.
Guys
Something not discussed here but which may be of relevance to some. During the early 60’s I had completed my automotive apprenticeship and had been promoted to fleet engineer. This was with the main dyer and finisher of seat belts amongst other items, like undersea cable protection. Although I was mainly responsible for the vehicle fleet and some plant I was also engaged in discussions regarding vehicle safety issues particularly involving safety belting, which we treated, dyed and rot proofed.
On one of these discussion occasions we were treated to a Home Office (Police) film of a notorious junction/ cross road somewhere in the south of England. The cameras had been set up to capture what you could only describe as “people flying through windscreens”.
At this road junction it showed quite clearly that if you had a laminated windscreen and drove without wearing a seat belt, then your chances of surviving a windscreen protrusion were just about zero. These windscreens were not nick named “chippers” for no reason. On the other hand most survived a toughen screen, (most of which were Zebra Zoned) although they may come through with heavy facial injury. Dogs never survived a laminated screen break through.
Laminated screens have a few advantages, but really require any rider to be wearing a seat belt and we are lucky with the S type as they have belt hard point attachments.
As an aside it is surprising how many passengers are seriously injured, even fatally by being struck by a dog on its way out through the windscreen. If you fit a laminated windscreen then fit safety belts at least for your passengers, even if you choose to drive without.