5-points vs. 6-points safety harness
Sexist
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5-points vs. 6-points safety harness
More is not always better.
In this article a rally navigator suffered severe lacerations on both sides of his scrotum due to the 6-point harness resulting in testicular herniation. I haven't heard of any similar injuries with 5-points but even if there were the object of the submarine belt is to hold the lap belt in place, it doesn't need two straps to do that.
WARNING Gruesome pics.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science.../sdarticle.pdf
In this article a rally navigator suffered severe lacerations on both sides of his scrotum due to the 6-point harness resulting in testicular herniation. I haven't heard of any similar injuries with 5-points but even if there were the object of the submarine belt is to hold the lap belt in place, it doesn't need two straps to do that.
We suggest that the mechanism of injury in this
case of the testicular herniation involved a deceleration
force which caused traumatic compression
of the testis against the pubis bone, combined with a
degloving injury to the scrotal skin due to the
arrangement of the crotch straps of the harness.
Whilst the harness used here spared the occupant
more severe injuries, it is of concern that this type
of injury occurred despite the harness and the three
layer suit. The minimum safety standard for harnesses
in cross country racing is two shoulder straps
and one lap belt,
1 although most drivers prefer a
minimum of a four point harness involving straps
coming over either shoulder and up from the waist
to join in a central quick-release coupling. In this
case a six point harness was used: a greater number
of points of harness contact should equate with
greater restraint. The added crotch strap, fixed at
points under the seat, connects to the coupling at a
single point (see Figs. 3 and 4). The crotch strap has
the advantage of preventing the occupant sliding
under the belt (‘submarining’) and spreads the force
of impact more evenly over the body in the event of a crash.
case of the testicular herniation involved a deceleration
force which caused traumatic compression
of the testis against the pubis bone, combined with a
degloving injury to the scrotal skin due to the
arrangement of the crotch straps of the harness.
Whilst the harness used here spared the occupant
more severe injuries, it is of concern that this type
of injury occurred despite the harness and the three
layer suit. The minimum safety standard for harnesses
in cross country racing is two shoulder straps
and one lap belt,
1 although most drivers prefer a
minimum of a four point harness involving straps
coming over either shoulder and up from the waist
to join in a central quick-release coupling. In this
case a six point harness was used: a greater number
of points of harness contact should equate with
greater restraint. The added crotch strap, fixed at
points under the seat, connects to the coupling at a
single point (see Figs. 3 and 4). The crotch strap has
the advantage of preventing the occupant sliding
under the belt (‘submarining’) and spreads the force
of impact more evenly over the body in the event of a crash.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science.../sdarticle.pdf
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damn that pdf 
screw that 6 point BS.
I'm not sure if a 5 point would have been much better though, I guess instead of peeling both sides of the ball sack off, it would have just smashed the onions completely?
screw that 6 point BS.
I'm not sure if a 5 point would have been much better though, I guess instead of peeling both sides of the ball sack off, it would have just smashed the onions completely?
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I bring this topic up because of the knee-jerk reaction people have regarding safety. They always apply the "if one is good then two is better" logic. It just isn't so. And in this case the "more is better" logic sliced this guy's nutsack.
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Those pictures were completely unnecessary for that article. I wasn't at all curious what testicular herniation actually involved, and I'd rather not have known. Sick bastards. Agreed, though, I'm thinking the same thing could have happened with a 5 point with the strap going between the grapes.
BTW, I never knew why it was called an 'anti-submarining' or 'submarine' belt. Thanks.
BTW, I never knew why it was called an 'anti-submarining' or 'submarine' belt. Thanks.
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It sounds like his six point was not fastened correctly and/or his seating angle was wrong. In a proper six point, the belts are snug against the thighs, not riding up the middle against your crotch, and if his seat was at the proper angle, he would not have been thrown into the anti-submarine belts, his ass would have been thrown forward into the seat that was already there while the lap and shoulder restraints would have kept him against that seat, with the anti-sub belt just ensuring the lap belt doesn't move out of place.
Simpson and Schroth both have great documentation on the proper angles for the driver and the belt anchor points:
Safety - Restraints - Seating Positions | Simpson Racing
http://www.schrothracing.com/docs/Co...structions.pdf
There is a very low tolerance to get it right and many teams/builders just bolt the harnesses in like oh, hey I have a harness, I'm safe now. Some of the belts only have a tolerance of ten degrees or less deviation from the ideal angles, and if you deviate, you get your nuts crunched. I wear a six point in my car.
Simpson and Schroth both have great documentation on the proper angles for the driver and the belt anchor points:
Safety - Restraints - Seating Positions | Simpson Racing
http://www.schrothracing.com/docs/Co...structions.pdf
There is a very low tolerance to get it right and many teams/builders just bolt the harnesses in like oh, hey I have a harness, I'm safe now. Some of the belts only have a tolerance of ten degrees or less deviation from the ideal angles, and if you deviate, you get your nuts crunched. I wear a six point in my car.
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