Is it safe to drive around with four point harnesses?

From a technical POV, I tried it once and would NEVER do it again. Modern three-point restraint systems allow upper body range of motion that is totally restricted in four-point restraint system. Leaning-in or to the side to look around an A pillar or gain a wider view from an outside mirror becomes virtually impossible. We take for granted such allowance when using standard restraint systems. IMO ..... don't do it; four-point restraint systems are intended for track use and should only be used accordingly. I'm sure others will chime in and speak to appearance related issues.

 

Some 4 point harness allow for upper body movements. Essentially works like 3 point harness with 2 pretensioners ... i agree that it is not ideal though.

 

I think something like this would be the only safe four point harness, no?

I've been in cars with aftermarket harnesses (without pretensioners) and was very uncomfortable from both a safety and comfort aspect. Sure my torso was kept firmly planted to the seat but I had visions of my neck snapping in any kind of collision.

 

Three point is safest for street use, unless you want to use your head and neck as rollover support.

 

Just saw this new thread. I won’t repeat what I posted in the other, but on top of my position posted there, this is an extremely good point I hadn’t mentioned. If you’re in an open top car, or one without strong rollover support.... yikes.

 

Actually, the racing harness should only be used when you have the rest of race gear on (helmet with head restraint)

Why? because your regular 3-point belt and air bag are teamed to work together for the "first impact" (no good for multiple impacts, it is only designed to handle one hard impact)

If you use a racing harness without helmet and head restraint then and if you are in an impact your body will "stay in place" but your head and neck will not and you'll likely be out of airbag range because your body will not move as it will with a 3-point so you can get a basal skull fracture and that's not good (your head tries to pull your spine out of your back).

So, consider that...

 

I posted this before: In the 60s, knew a young guy had a TR-4. Was driving a little fast and the car spun out on a corner and up an embankment and flipped upside down! The Triumph swivel rigid passenger seat jammed up under windshield post and saved his neck. Passers buy helped him flip the car over on its wheels, he checked the oil and drove it home. He was un-hurt! Very Lucky!!

 

First define "safe". If, by that, it's intended to convey some equivalence with modern street systems (and they are systems, each component designed to work in conjunction with the others), then, no, a set of track-optimized belts (and one should only utilize 5- or 6-point harnesses, never four - submarining is no joke) employed without a Hans or similar head/neck restraint will not provide the same degree of safety.

That said, I'd trust a properly installed 5- or 6-point harness used in combination, as intended, with a Hans device, over any sort of 3-point, inertial reel belt (they're not true harnesses in the traditional sense of the term). Whether such a setup's necessarily restricted mobility yields the necessary visibility on the street is a function of the specific car, driver dimensions, and other such factors. Without the Hans, forget about it - nothing good will result from trusting a partial restraint configuration.

As much as I love racing harnesses, they're not the right tool for most instances on the street.

 

I ride a motor bike. Any safety feature is an upgrade including roll cage

 

its not a good idea.
i tried it for a couple weeks when i dailied the CS, but it was kinda dangerous.

you also dont want to drive a car with a roll cage as a daily - unless you plan on wearing a helmet to the office !

 

Thiese safety issues are not good news for all the CS owners!

My friend has one and he complains that it's very hard to move around like you can with a 3-point belt. Try to reach for the glove box? Not happening.

 

well all that being said, driving around from A to A, or to and from some specific destination is fine with the harness - i drive the f40 like that too.
its just not great in town traffic, or errands etc.