rear seatbelts

Is it true that people on the sidefacing sats in the back of a defender would be safer without a seatbelt?

Not sure anyone could answer that question as it is, or probably at all with any accuracy.

Surely it depends from which angle you get hit, whether you're talking about lap belts (which Im guessing you are?) & what speed the vehicles are travelling.

Lap belts in themselves can cause horrendous injuries & I took the bench out of my truck as soon as I bought it as I wouldn't sit anyone I cared about on one.

Any help?

landroverfreak said:

Is it true that people on the sidefacing sats in the back of a defender would be safer without a seatbelt?

Click to expand...

As already stated, it pretty much depends on the nature of the collision, but as a rule belted is better by a definite majority.
If the car comes to a very sudden stop you will be thrown around until something stops you, if not the belt then something else. Front seat backrests won't hold up for more than a low speed body slam, so anything more than that you're looking at first squashing anyone in the front seat and then impacting the windscreen.
Unbelted passengers stands a fair chance of being ejected from the car at an accident, which tends to be rather nasty, since there's no telling where you'll land. You might be thrown clear and land in a nice, soft, forgiving ditch - or you might land in the opposite lane facing oncoming traffic.

For a car with questionable cab strength it is entirely possible to think of a scenario where being ejected prior to a violent roll-over would be preferable to remaining in the car, but the odds would definitely be against you.

Erk!

Always look on the bright side....