Autoblog

Chinese thwarting seatbelt laws with t-shirts

Zach Bowman — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: China, Etc., Government/Legal

If necessity is the mother of ingenuity, law enforcement must be the doting father. Drivers in China have taken to circumventing local seatbelt laws by purchasing and wearing special T-shirts. The shirts feature a graphic with a stripe that runs from shoulder to hip, creating the illusion that the driver is wearing his or her harness while seated. Police have reportedly begun cracking down on drivers for not wearing their belts after a rash of collisions resulted in occupants jettisoned from their vehicles. Now, getting busted without wearing your safety belt carries a penalty of the equivalent of $8 and two points on your license. Lose 12 points and you're walking.

The shirts themselves can cost up to $8, and while they aren't specifically illegal, some police have called the garments "self-deceptive." We aren't entirely sure what that means, though we imagine procuring and wearing the T is a bit more of a hassle than simply buckling up, regardless of the safety risks.

Chinese thwarting seatbelt laws with t-shirts originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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High-tech seatbelt device wants to save you in a flood [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos

We imagine things get hectic pretty quickly if you happen to take a deep plunge while still in your car. As the water rushes in, things like patience and good sense can rush out, so doing something as reflexive and simple as getting out of your seatbelt can waste time you don't really have. If you're worried about ending up underwater in your car, then you'll want to check out the Escape Belt from Dutch company Fijen.

The round black plastic tube affixed to the seat belt clasp above is the Escape Belt mechanism. It contains a cartridge with a salt pill; when enough water fills the car to dissolve the salt pill - more than a spilled beverage, mind you - a curved metal clip flips out of the top of the unit and depresses the button, unhooking the seatbelt. Voila, freedom.

We're not sure who is really the ideal demographic for this, but if you're interested, it's 29.95 euros ($39 US) and you can watch it at work in the video below. And if your ejection needs are even more intense, Fijen will be happy to sell you an Escape Hammer.

Continue reading High-tech seatbelt device wants to save you in a flood [w/video]

High-tech seatbelt device wants to save you in a flood [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz debuts Beltbag airbag for rear seatbelts

John Neff — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz can be credited with more technological firsts in the automotive industry than perhaps any other company, but it cannot lay claim to being the first automaker to offer a seatbelt airbag. Nor can it claim to be the second. Those two spots go to the Ford Explorer and Lexus LFA, both of which came out with seatbelt airbags in 2010.

Nevertheless, Mercedes isn't the sort of company to let the glory of being first get in the way of doing something worthwhile, and so its new Beltbag system for rear seat occupants will be coming to a luxury car near you soon. Our best guess is that the inflatable straps will debut on the redesigned S-Class that bows in the first half of next year, and then quickly proliferate throughout the brand's lineup.

Like the Ford system, Mercedes' Beltbag system is relegated to rear seats only and powered by charged gas that inflates the strap to nearly three times its normal width, thus increasing the surface area across which to distribute the impact forces of a crash. Unlike the Ford system, Mercedes says only a frontal impact will trigger its belts to inflate, whereas the Explorer's inflatable bags are triggered by both frontal and side impacts.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz debuts Beltbag airbag for rear seatbelts

Mercedes-Benz debuts Beltbag airbag for rear seatbelts originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai to petition NHTSA over 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid seatbelt recall

Chris Shunk — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Safety, Hyundai

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a safety recall of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, but this campaign comes with a twist. NHTSA announced on its website that Sonata Hybrid models produced between December 2, 2010 and March 7, 2012 are being recalled due to a seatbelt issue. NHTSA announced that the rear center belt, which incorporates a release mechanism that detaches both the lap and shoulder portion at the lower anchor point, doesn't meet safety standards.

Of the 14,728 units potentially covered under the recall, Hyundai will repair the 1,633 Sonata Hybrid models currently sitting on dealer lots. But here is where the catch comes into play: The government agency says Hyundai plans to file a petition for a recall exemption for those vehicles already delivered to their owners because it believes the action is "inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety." Hyundai will not have to send out recall notices to the 13,095 Sonata Hybrid models already on the road until after the petition has been resolved. Hit the jump to read over the NHTSA press release.

Continue reading Hyundai to petition NHTSA over 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid seatbelt recall

Hyundai to petition NHTSA over 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid seatbelt recall originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz improves on the seat belt, again

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:02:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz seat belts already have a feature that adjusts the tension of the belt after it's buckled, using motors in the B- and C-pillars. The boffins in Stuttgart have improved on that by turning to their attentions to the buckle, giving it two new functions. When you enter the vehicle, the buckle extends by 70 mmm (2.75 inches) and it illuminates to help you locate it and insert the tongue. Once the seat belt has been fastened, it retracts again to provide the proper tension around the thorax and lower pelvis.

Mercedes says the innovation will appear in its cars soon, and if we placing bets, we'd say the 2013 S-Class is a perfect candidate. There are more photos in the gallery and a press release with more info on the tech after the jump.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz improves on the seat belt, again

Mercedes-Benz improves on the seat belt, again originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kansas man goes to court over homemade seatbelt

Zach Bowman — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Humor

From the 'We Almost Missed It'' file comes word Kansas man has set about testing his state's new seatbelt law. Kansas has just joined the handful of other states that have moved not wearing a seatbelt while driving up to a primary offense, meaning that law enforcement officers can pull over and cite offenders simply for failing to buckle up. According to KWCH CBS 12, Paul Weigand says that he wants to challenge the law because he believes wearing his seatbelt should be up to him. Since the law says that an individual simply has to wear a seatbelt, Weigand has apparently taken to donning a seatbelt that he made himself around his waist at all times. The law apparently makes no mention of the seatbelt needing to be factory equipment nor that the belt needs to actually be fastened to the vehicle.

Not surprisingly, Weigand was cited under the new law and decided to fight the citation. A district judge decided earlier this month that the seatbelt crusader can take his case to court. According to the report, Weigand knows that he's poking fun at the law, but believes that seatbelt use should be up to individuals. He claims to have a phobia of being trapped in a crashed vehicle. Click on the KWCH link below to watch a video and see the homemade safety belt for yourself.

[Source: KWCH CBS 12 via USA Today]

Kansas man goes to court over homemade seatbelt originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2011 Ford Explorer partially revealed during seatbelt airbag demo?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Safety, Videos, Crossover, Ford

2011 Ford Explorer, is that you? - Click above to watch the video after the break

Sometimes, we have to wonder if automakers just like toying with the emotions of those of us who follow their comings and goings on a daily basis. How else can we explain how Ford would show up to the Shoreline Community College Automotive Center in Seattle with what appears to be the back half of a 2011 Ford Explorer in tow?

It's not really possible to know exactly what it is that we're gazing at in the video pasted after the break, but it sure does appear to match what we're expecting to see from the first unit-construction Explorer from the Blue Oval Boys. Nowhere else is that more evident than with the sloping C-pillar, which looks like a dead ringer for the one we saw blowing in the wind on a car hauler back in March.

No matter what it is that we're seeing in this video, the rear seatbelt airbag technology on display is definitely coming to a dealership near you, first on the - you guessed it - 2011 Ford Explorer. Enough talking already... check out the video for yourself after the break.

[Source: Driven Car Reviews]

Continue reading Video: 2011 Ford Explorer partially revealed during seatbelt airbag demo?

Video: 2011 Ford Explorer partially revealed during seatbelt airbag demo? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda seatbelt lawsuit headed to U.S. Supreme Court

Zach Bowman — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on whether or not current federal regulations protect automakers from being sued under state product liability laws. According to The Wall Street Journal, justices will examine a California lawsuit that claims that Mazda should be held responsible for the death of a passenger in a 1993 MPV minivan. The passenger was riding in the middle seat, wearing a lap belt, when an accident occurred. The belt caused serious internal injuries that eventually led to death. The plaintiff's argument is that by not installing three-point seatbelts in the center row of the vehicle, Mazda failed to do everything in its power to protect the occupants of the vehicle.

It's important to note that three-point seatbelts didn't become a legal requirement in all seating positions until 2007. Before that time, regulations established in 1989 said that three-point belts were only required in outboard seats, so Mazda built the MPV to conform to the laws in place when the vehicle was built and sold.

The lawsuit was originally rejected after Mazda pointed to a 2000 Supreme Court case in which Honda was unsuccessfully sued after injuries occurred in a 1987 Honda Accord. In that case, the plaintiff said that Honda was responsible because it did not install airbags in the vehicle.

The Supreme Court will hear the case in the 2010-2011 term starting in October.

[Sources: The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg | Image: Chip Somodevilla/Getty]

Mazda seatbelt lawsuit headed to U.S. Supreme Court originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 May 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pennsylvania to conduct seatbelt checks... from aircraft?

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 22 May 2010 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

Rule number one of the Internet should be to always read past the headline before hitting the keyboard to comment. A prime example comes from the latest press release from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The statement's headline implies that PA state troopers will be enforcing seatbelt use from aircraft flying overhead. Frankly, given the budget constraints of most states, we suspect that aerial traffic enforcement is enormously wasteful at best. But the idea of even detecting seatbelt use from the sky seems absurd on its face.

As it turns out, Pennsylvania's belt law only only allows for secondary enforcement anyway. That means if you drive unbelted past a trooper while still observing all other traffic edicts, you can't get pulled over. Hence, the Air, Land and Speed campaign that the Pennsylvania state police is undertaking this summer will be primarily focused on catching speeders and then giving them secondary tickets if they insist on being truly foolish by driving unrestrained.

[Source: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | Image: Wikimedia Commons]

Continue reading Pennsylvania to conduct seatbelt checks... from aircraft?

Pennsylvania to conduct seatbelt checks... from aircraft? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 May 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Georgia finally mandates seatbelt usage among pickup truck drivers

Dan Roth — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

Now it's just New Hampshire. For decades, any effort in Georgia to require universal seatbelt use couldn't get passed - such matters would just get stuck in the throat of the House by extra-regulation-resistant rural lawmakers. The consistent rejection kept pickup truck driving adults from being legally required to buckle up, an exemption that drove safety advocates up the wall.

According to The Washington Post, however, statistics about needless deaths, avoidable accidents and potential medical cost savings seem to have finally connected with enough House members to send the bill through, with the measure passing by a tally of 132-29.

For what it's worth, not wearing a belt when you're using your pickup truck on a construction site or farming doesn't seem like a contentious issue. Speeds are low and drivers may be in and out of the truck rather regularly, but those situations are not on public roads at normal speeds. Despite what some view as as unneeded regulation, it seems that members of the Georgia House now consider a law requiring adults to buckle up when in pickup trucks (the same as in cars) as a vote for common sense that will keep more money in state coffers.

Now it's just the Granite State as the lone state that doesn't mandate seatbelt use. Live free and/or die?

[Source: The Washington Post | Image: Getty]

Report: Georgia finally mandates seatbelt usage among pickup truck drivers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: Half of all European truck drivers don't wear their seatbelts

Zach Bowman — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:19:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Europe, Government/Legal, Work, Volvo

Volvo truck during crash testing - Click above for high-res image

New research has revealed that up to 50 percent of European truck drivers don't buckle up when they hit the road. A study by CEASAR Research Institute discovered that seatbelt use among truck drivers varies widely from country to country - from as little as 10 percent to better than 70 percent - it all averages out to the fact that around half of the long-haul drivers don't use their belts.

The study also attempted to figure out why the usage rates were so low. Not surprisingly, there's something of a stigma attached to strapping yourself into a big rig, with some drivers believing they're safer in a large mass vehicle compared to a small passenger car. Even so, the CEASAR study claims that traffic fatalities among truck drivers could be decreased by as much as 40 percent if drivers simply took the time to click it.

Of the countries surveyed, France had the highest seatbelt usage - 70 percent - thanks largely to the fact that the country has legislation on the books to encourage drivers to be safe. Driving without a seatbelt in France will net you points on your license. Too many points, and you're walking to work. Hop the jump for the full press release.

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Study: Half of all European truck drivers don't wear their seatbelts

Study: Half of all European truck drivers don't wear their seatbelts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: The most beautiful seatbelt advocacy commercial ever?

Chris Paukert — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Videos, UK

Embrace Life PSA - click above to watch the video

Over the years, we've seen plenty of public safety announcements that tackle the issue of buckling up behind the wheel. Most rely on fear to convey their message - be it fear of a police citation ("Click it or ticket") or the menace of graphic violence, dismemberment and death.

This slow-motion spot from the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, however, takes a different tack without sacrificing its effectiveness or drama, all while adding an unexpected element of artistry and grace to go along with the obligatory heartstring-tugging. (And before you ask, yes, it most certainly reminds us of a certain incredible Radiohead music video). Check it out after the jump and see if you don't agree. Hat tip to Duy!

[Source: Sussex Safer Roads Partnership via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: The most beautiful seatbelt advocacy commercial ever?

Video: The most beautiful seatbelt advocacy commercial ever? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai recalls 65,000+ 2006-2009 Azera sedans over seatbelt issue

Michael Harley — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Hyundai

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall campaign directed at certain model year 2006 through 2009 Hyundai Azera sedans. All affected Azera models were manufactured between September 27, 2005, and October 1, 2008 - in total, 65,226 vehicles are subject to the recall action. The Azera was previously dinged by NHTSA last April as part of a multi-line recall over faulty taillamps.

According to NHTSA, the wiring harness for the front right seat belt tension sensor may become damaged after repeated use over time. If the sensor wiring is broken, the airbag will not deploy in the event of a serious crash or collision - understandably putting the seat occupant at risk of injury. Hyundai will notify owners, inspect vehicles, and make repairs free of charge under the terms of the recall that is scheduled to officially begin next month. In the meantime, owners may contact Hyundai Customer Service at 1-800-633-5151, contact the NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, or visit www.safercar.gov. Press release after the jump.

[Source: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Continue reading Hyundai recalls 65,000+ 2006-2009 Azera sedans over seatbelt issue

Hyundai recalls 65,000+ 2006-2009 Azera sedans over seatbelt issue originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Party Time: Volvo celebrates 50 years of the three-point belt

Chris Tutor — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Videos, Volvo

Volvo's three-point seat belt - Click above to watch the video after the break

Back in 1958, most Americans wouldn't have been caught dead wearing a seat belt. That was mostly because safety belts were optional equipment in every car sold in the U.S. and drivers were suspicious of the things.

Just one year later, though, Nils Bohlin of Sweden invented and patented a three-point safety belt system that Volvo immediately made standard on its Amazon model. Variations on that system are still being used today in virtually every modern car.

Volvo, as you might expect, is pretty proud of itself, bragging that Mr. Bohlin is personally responsible for saving a million lives and that the three-point safety belt is Volvo's most important innovation and "almost certainly the most important invention in the whole history of traffic safety." Hmm. Maybe, but what about the, um, stop sign? Or double yellow line? Just saying. Then again, Volvo says the German patent office called the three-point belt one of the eight patents that had the greatest importance to mankind between 1885 and 1985. Surely that's now been trumped by 24-7 cable news networks.

Regardless, if you want to celebrate 50 years of safer driving with Volvo, chill the beer, fire up the grill and watch the video after the break. There's some great historical footage including one of a crash test with a live person as well as, more importantly, gratuitous footage of a girl in short shorts. Hit the jump to watch the video and read the full press release from Volvo.

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Party Time: Volvo celebrates 50 years of the three-point belt

Party Time: Volvo celebrates 50 years of the three-point belt originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Florida signs new primary seat belt law, gets $35 million from gov't

Michael Harley — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

Drivers and front-seat passengers in Florida may be cited for not wearing seat belts when a new law takes effect on June 30. Known as a "primary" seat belt law, the law allows enforcement officers to pull vehicles over solely for a belt violation (a "secondary" seat belt law requires another infraction to take place before a ticket may be issued). Florida is only the 28th state to enact a primary seat belt law, while the remainder have secondary laws and New Hampshire has no seatbelt law whatsoever.

Signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist earlier this week, the legislation makes Florida eligible for up to $35 million in federal grant money created in 2005 as an incentive for states to establish seat belt laws. While Florida's fine for the nonmoving seat belt violation will be a mere $30, studies show that drivers are 13% more likely to fasten their belts if they can be pulled over for it. While the millions in federal money and ticket revenue are both incentives to the state, that's not the primary motivation behind it. "This bill will save lives," the governor said. "That's what is important."

[Source: Palm Beach Post]

Florida signs new primary seat belt law, gets $35 million from gov't originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 May 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota's JDM collision-detecting radar system could come to Lexus

Michael Harley — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Lexus, Toyota

Two new JDM Toyota safety technologies are likely to arrive on future Lexus models in the United States. The first is a system that uses a millimeter-wave radar to detect objects in the vehicle's path. When obstructions are noted, the driver is alerted by an indicator or a sound. If the pending collision is imminent, a pre-crash system activates the brakes, removes slack from the seats belts and then deploys the airbags.

The second system involves the seats themselves. If an imminent rear-end collision is detected, the seat backs will automatically return to an upright position. In addition, seat belts will tighten and the headrests will move forward to help prevent whiplash. Both innovations are planned to arrive soon on Japan-market vehicles from Toyota Motor Corporation, so it's expected that these technologies will likely debut on upcoming Lexus models in the States.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Toyota's JDM collision-detecting radar system could come to Lexus originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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End of unsafe era: (Some) School buses to get seat belts

Chris Shunk — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

My wife and I thoroughly trained our oldest daughter on seat belt safety, and it got to the point where she would scream at the top of her lungs if one of us didn't buckle our belts. When she first stepped foot on a school bus, she was terrified to learn that there were no seat belts and didn't understand how school buses were the exception to the seat belt rule. After many years of extensive study, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is changing that, at least for buses weighing under 10,000 lbs. The NHTSA's findings are the same as a 2002 study that smaller buses should receive belts and seat backs should be raised to 24 inches, but nothing was done about the findings back then. A series of bus crashes since has helped build the case to finally require the seat belts on certain buses and taller seat backs for them all.

Part of the reason for inaction was that adding seat belts would decrease seating capacity by 17% while also adding $40-$50 per seat to bus costs. With 25 million children riding 500,000 buses, that adds up to $100 million in annual costs that would, according to reports, save roughly one life per year. Statistics show that about 5 children die each year in school bus accidents, which represents .1 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. Kids that travel by bike to school die at a far greater rate of 12.2 per 100 million miles traveled, and kids who walk to school die at a rate of 8.7 per 100 million. The NHTSA's ruling goes into effect November 2011, which is five months before my oldest daughter rides the bus for the last time and gets into her own car.

[Source: Detroit News, photo by gareth_lofthouse | CC 2.0]

End of unsafe era: (Some) School buses to get seat belts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota whistleblower joined by civil suit over father's death

Dan Roth — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

A faulty seatbelt that traps an occupant in a vehicle and leads to his death is a horrible tragedy. If the defect were given a pass at the manufacturing plant, it goes beyond tragic to criminal. Toyota is now facing two lawsuits in California, both centered around manufacturing defects that may have been ignored at its joint-venture New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant.

We reported earlier on the first lawsuit filed by Katy Cameron, a NUMMI worker who alleges that vehicles with serious problems were passed out the door, even though the NUMMI plant purportedly subscribes to the "Toyota way" of manufacturing. Instead of empowering workers to spot and correct defects, even stop the assembly line to make things right, management at the NUMMI plant allegedly discouraged Cameron by demoting her.

A second lawsuit has also been filed by the Singh family, who are blaming the seatbelt latch in their 2002 Corolla for the death of Raminder Singh. The Singhs were involved in an accident that led to an engine fire, and while 19-year-old Gurinder Singh was able to exit the vehicle, his father remained trapped by his seatbelt despite Gurinder's efforts to unlatch it.

A spokesman for Toyota has been quoted as saying, "as heart-rending and tragic as this collision was, Toyota has an altogether different view of the facts." The facts will hopefully come to light during this civil trial, which heard opening statements on Tuesday.

Thanks for the tip, Jon!

[Source: Money/CNN]

Toyota whistleblower joined by civil suit over father's death originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buckle Up: Seat belt saves choking driver

Alex Nunez — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:55:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, First Drives

Steven John Earp of Eugene, Oregon could never have imagined that the breakfast sandwich he was eating behind the wheel as he drove to work last week was almost his last meal, period. How so? Well, during the course of his meal on wheels, Mr. Earp began choking on his sandwich, and the situation was so dire that he blacked out behind the wheel. While unconscious, he plowed into another parked car, and for his sake, that's probably the best thing that could have happened.

Upon impact, Mr Earp's seat belt performed what amounted to be an unassisted heimlich maneuver on him, clearing the blockage that had caused him to lose consciousness and control of his car. No one else was hurt, and the only harm done was to the two vehicles involved in the crash. Mr. Earp, who collapsed after exiting the car when he regained consciousness, was taken to the hospital for observation and later released.

The lessons learned here are very simple:

Buckle up, because your seat belt can save you in more ways than one.
Put the damned sandwich down and wait till you get to the office to stuff your face. Capisce?

[Source: The Register-Guard]

Buckle Up: Seat belt saves choking driver originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 RS recalled

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 08:27:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Porsche

According to What Car?, Porsche isn't immune to the recall woes that normally plague much larger automakers. The article states that 43 911 GT3s and their harder-core RS siblings are suffering from faulty seatbelts. The optional six-point belt's unlocking mechanism apparently won't come loose, causing concerns that if a crash were to take place, the occupants wouldn't be able to escape the vehicle without the belts being cut.

Porsche will be contacting the owners of said 911s to arrange a date for inspection. Unfortunately, the website What Car? referred to for further information, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), didn't have any details about what specific models were affected and in what part of the world the vehicles were sold. As soon as we get more information, we'll update this post.

[Source: What Car?]

Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 RS recalled originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Apr 2007 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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